Losing mom Sunshine Cruz would crush me — Sam Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Up-and-coming star Sam Cruz recently had the scare of her life: her mother, actress Sunshine Cruz tested positive for COVID-19.

"We got scared because she got this at work. We didn't know how to react at first," Sam said.

Her mom, Sunshine, stars in "Bagong Umaga" which will end this week. She and other co-stars revealed earlier this week that they tested positive for the virus.

Sam recalled how she and her sisters remained strong for their mother who was isolated for two weeks in their home. They would only talk to her via FaceTime. Sam is glad that her mother has since tested negative for the virus.

"Seeing my loved ones leave me or to see them not being there for me anymore. I wouldn't know what to do without them, without my family because they've been there for me all the way. My mom is always there to support me and us, three sisters. My mom is super duper strong. She raised us by her own as a single parent. Seeing her gone would crush me. That's probably one of my greatest fears po," shared Sam during a recent online presscon.

Now that her mom is cleared of the dreaded virus, Sam is a picture of positivity with a budding showbiz career.

The second of the three daughters of Sunshine and actor Cesar Montano, Sam is launched as a member of ABS-CBN's talent pool, Squad Plus.

Squad Plus is a group of up-and-coming talents honed by the giant network. Also launched were TikTok sensation Angela Ken, KD Estrada and "Idol Philippines" contestant Anji Salvacion.

Unlike most showbiz offsprings who admitted that they only wanted to see if showbiz is for them, Sam had always known she wanted to be a part of it.

"Ever since I was little, I'd always be super interested in their work. Actually yung mga teleseryes ng mom and dad ko. Every shows they did. When I was younger, I'm like, 'Dad, I want to try that. I want to be an action star.' I also wanted to try drama scenes like my mom. That's why probably my parents were the ones who really inspired me to follow along their footsteps," she said.

She has been regularly performing at the Sunday noontime show "ASAP Natin 'To" and has been uploading her covers of popular songs in her social media accounts.

The Grade 10 student at De La Salle Zobel Santiago shared that it is both an advantage and a disadvantage to be born to popular parents.

"I get to be in a lot of amazing projects and have a huge headstart. But I feel it's going to be a disadvantage for me because everyone's eyes will be on me. They might compare me with my parents. I just have to know how to deal with it," she said.

The pretty teen had in fact had her taste of bashing and issues when she and her sisters, Angelina and Chesca, where the subject of lewd comments on a Facebook post by their mother last year.

It was a post of them taking a dip in an inflatable pool wearing swimsuits.

Sunshine did not remain quiet and called out the "predators" who posted malicious comments on her post. Sam said that it is one quality that she admires from her mother, who has since raised her and sisters when her parents separated.

Sam shared the valuable advice her parents have given her that she keeps to heart.

"They always told me to know how to act and respond. Ever since I was little, I was told to think before you speak. It goes both ways in soc med, think before you post. If ever I stumble across an issue, I have to research and know the background story before I give me an opinion to avoid problems and issues," she shared.