Sam Milby, Ivana Alawi & Anji Salvacion remember their late dads

MANILA, Philippines — Losing a father is very painful.

As we honor all the fathers around the world today, celebrities Sam Milby, Ivana Alawi and Anji Salvacion recalled their fondest memories of their respective dads who had passed on.

After filming the drama series Ang sa Iyo ay Akin in 2020, Sam went home to Ohio to spend time with his dad who was initially diagnosed with dementia but they later found out he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. His dad, Lloyd Milby, passed away last November.

The A Family Affair actor admitted in a virtual call that he is “still in the process” and “in denial” of what has happened.

Sam Milby with his dad who passed away November last year.

With his dad’s passing, Sam said that “life is really short.”

“I wish I spent more time with my parents when I could have had more time. Kasi medyo mahirap nung may Alzheimer’s na siya and when I would go to visit, he’d act like he knows me. My mom (would ask him), ‘You know him, right?’ (My dad would say) ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ but kita ko sa mata niya na hindi eh. He was just trying to be polite but I could tell na hindi niya ako kilala,” recalled Sam.

“Spend your time with your loved ones. Life is short,” he advised.

In a separate media event, Sam was asked by this paper what were his favorite memories with his dad. He said his dad taught him how to ride a motorcycle, which was his interest.

Sam’s father was born in 1934, during the time of The Great Depression in the United States. “My dad came from a poor family. He made a promise when he was younger na lahat ng pinagdaanan niya, when he has his own family, he won’t allow his family to experience yung naranasan niya nung bata siya,” shared Sam.

“So when I was young, workaholic siya, yun lang ginagawa niya. He was working all the time. He had his own business. I did homeschool for six years ‘coz I was living with my coach, with my sister,” he added.

Although they “didn’t much have that time physically together,” Sam described his father as a “very good provider” and his love language is gift-giving.

Anji Salvacion with her family, including her American father who went missing when she was eight years old.

Screenshot from PBB YouTube video

Sam’s co-star in A Family Affair, Ivana, also shared her greatest recollection of her Moroccan father, Samier Al-Alawi, who passed on in 2018. The actress and social media star received quite an inheritance from her dad, including a property in Bahrain, where she spent her childhood days.

“Growing up kasi again yung dad ko was very busy,” described Ivana. “His priority was to provide us with the best that he can. He was always at work. But yung mga memories na na-appreciate ko is when he would talk to me and tell me na parang, Mariam (Ivana’s real name)… Importante na he let me learn.”

“Pinapapunta niya ako sa restaurant namin tapos ako nagluluto kasi sabi niya importante kapag nag-asawa ka, marunong kang magluto. Marunong ka sa mga gawaing bahay,” she continued.

“Hindi niya ako ini-spoil. He didn’t give us everything. He still let us learn from life and experience and those were the great memories that I will always remember (about him),” she told The STAR.

On the other hand, Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Big Winner Anji turned emotional when asked about his dad who went missing when she was eight years old.

She said she finally “let go” and she is “free.” By this, she meant, “I am free from all of the grudges. I am free from all of the pain. Free from all of the hurtful memory, painful memory that I’ve gone through when he went missing,” she told The STAR in an exclusive virtual chat.

Although she wasn’t able to find her father, she “found myself once again” through PBB.

“’Kuya’ asked me, ‘Paano ba si Anji magmahal ngayon?’ Today, how I love is by letting go. ‘Coz I don’t wanna clip the wings of the person that I love just for me to be happy and forgetting about their happiness at the same time. It goes the same with my dad,” she mused.

In tears, she went on, “My dad’s happiness is to see me happy. And I’m clipping his happiness if I’m not happy. So yun yung parang, me, crying right now is not because I’m sad but it’s because I am happy.”

“Everything that I felt right now is not heavy anymore but it’s just so light. And I’m so glad that I could say na, ‘Wow finally we’re free,’” she stated.

Anji’s favorite memories with her dad was sunset watching and stargazing with the whole family in her hometown in Siargao Island and her father would remind her to “never give up in achieving your dreams.”

Her message to her dad this Father’s Day is: “Daddy, wherever you are, I hope that you are happy. Happy Father’s Day. You deserve all the love that life could give you. Just know that we love you so much especially ni mommy and now we (can) finally say this na we’re free. I really let go. I hope that you are OK wherever you are. And just know how much we love you. I hope you are happy.”

At present, she considers her uncles from her mother’s side as father figures.