By ALEX Y. VERGARA
Just when everyone’s attention was focused on flattening the COVID-19 curve, actor Sam Milby created a spike of his own on social media when he publicly revealed on his Instagram account @samuelmilby Saturday that he and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray are dating.
The photo, a hardly recognizable long shot of the couple in the middle of what appears like a provincial road, shows Sam kissing Catriona on the forehead. Without mentioning Catriona’s name, the actor, who also turned 36 yesterday, captioned the photo “Worth every second of the wait. Most special birthday yet ♥️”
Born Samuel Lloyd Milby in Troy, Ohio, the Filipino-American actor has been one of ABS-CBN’s talents since 2005 when he joined Pinoy Big Brother. His last high-profile relationship was with model, TV host and blogger Mari Jasmine, who later revealed that she’s bisexual.
Before winning the Miss Universe crown, Catriona, 26, was in a six-year-relationship with model-actor Clint Bondad. The two called it quits early in the then New York-based Catriona’s reign as Miss Universe.
As early as December 2019, soon after Catriona passed on her crown and flew home to the Philippines, she was asked by Boy Abunda on his ABS-CBN talk show Tonight with Boy Abunda on being linked with Sam and Alden Richards. Catriona attributed such talk to fans.
“I feel like the fans are like shipping, which I guess it’s what fans do. I never met Alden before,” she told Boy.
She added: “And then Sam naman, we go to the same church, we are under the same management, so, friend [ko] naman siya.”
When Boy further asked her if she’s in love again, Catriona was coy: “I am in love with the possibilities of the new chapter.”
If ever love was starting to blossom between her and Sam, Catriona kept her cards close to her chest in an exclusive interview with this writer in late January for a cover story, which came out in PeopleAsia magazine’s Feb-March issue. She claimed to be loveless, and instead talked about “self-love.”
“Self-love and checking in with yourself doesn’t have to be a grand event. After a long day, checking in with yourself could be as simple as asking yourself how you felt today and what situations were you challenged by,” she shared. Well, she’s not anymore.
Fellow celebrities, including Jericho Rosales, Iza Calzado, Coney Reyes, Paolo Valenciano, Morisette Amon, John Pratts and Reyver Cruz, lost no time greeting Sam on Instagram and telling the couple through words and various emoticons how happy they are for them.
“Aweeee! Happy Birthday!, writes @jerichorosalesofficial
“Happy Birthday, Sam! ♥️ Happy of you guys!”, writes @missizacalzado
@johnprats declares, “Happy ako para sa inyo!! Alam mo yan!!”
