Sam Y.G.

Sam YG
Born
Samir Gogna

(1984-08-18) August 18, 1984 (age 40)
Quezon City, Philippines
Other namesShivaker
The Original Indian Sensation
CitizenshipIndia (until 2010)
Philippines (since 2010)
Alma materAteneo de Manila University
Occupation(s)Radio and television personality, TV host
Years active2005–present
SpouseEssa Santos (2022)

Samir Gogna, known professionally as Sam YG (short for Samir Young Guy), and also known as his character Shivaker (born August 18, 1984), is a Filipino radio and television personality. He was one of the three Boys Night Out hosts on Magic 89.9 along with Tony Toni and Slick Rick. He was also a co-host for Eat Bulaga!.[1][2]

Early and personal life

Gogna was born and raised in the Philippines; he is a fourth-generation Indian Filipino: his family are Catholics originating from Jaipur, India. He has an older brother and a younger sister.[2][3][4]

Gogna attended Ateneo de Manila University from grade school to college. Gogna aspired to become a lawyer when he was a teenager, which led him to pursue a degree in legal management.[2][3]

Gogna became a target of race-based bullying in his youth because he was Indian. His peers called him Bumbáy (Filipino ethnic slur for Indians), 5-6 (Indian loan shark)[n 1] and mabahò (Tagalog for "smelly") based on Filipino stereotypes about Indians.[1][2][3]

In April 2010, Gogna gave up his Indian nationality and became a Filipino citizen.[6][7]

Career

In 2003, 19-year-old Samir Gogna successfully auditioned for the Junior Jock program of Magic 89.9. Being the youngest among the Junior Jocks, his bosses nicknamed him "Young Guy", which he adopted into his radio name, Sam YG (Samir Young Guy).[2]

After graduating from Ateneo de Manila University, Gogna worked with several television networks including Hero, Studio 23's Wazzup Wazzup, QTV, and CNN Philippines.[2]

In 2006, he became a DJ for Magic 89.9. He joined Tony Toni and Slick Rick in Boys' Night Out, taking the place of King DJ Logan.[8][9] Shivaker, Sam YG's alter ego, first appeared in Boys' Night Out. Shivaker was an Indian love guru who wore a turban and spoke with a thick Indian accent. In 2009, Shivaker had his first television appearance in Cool Center as a relationship expert.[3][9][10] In August 2009, Shivaker and Tony Toni appeared as contestants in the Eat Bulaga! segment, "Pinoy Henyo". The studio audience were so fascinated with Shivaker that he was invited to be a host of Eat Bulaga!;[3] he also became a host of Diz Iz It!.[11] In July 2015, he was featured on the cover of Men's Health Philippines.[12] In January 2016, after the last segment Dancing in Tandem replacing ATM with the Baes, Sam YG departed Eat Bulaga! to focus on his career as a DJ.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network
2009 Cool Center Himself/Co-host GMA Network
2009–2016 Eat Bulaga!
2010–2011 Diz Iz It!
2014–2015
2015–present		 Boys Ride Out/Boys Off the Record Himself/Host 9TV/CNN PH
2016 Dear Uge Rajesh GMA Network
Vintage Trip Himself/Host GMA News TV
2018 Road Trip Himself/Guest GMA Network

Radio

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Many Indians living in the Philippines are involved in a money-lending scheme where borrowers pay back a ₱5000 loan with ₱1000 interest (total of ₱6000, hence the term "5-6"). The loaned money is paid back within one month, collected on a daily basis. This translates to 20% monthly interest rate[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Jocelyn Jimenez (13 May 2011). "Sam YG talks about how he got into the limelight". pep.ph. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ricky Lo (28 October 2016). "Take a trip with Sam YG". Funfare. The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Six things you didn't know about Sam YG". GMA News and Public Affairs. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  4. ^ Baldoza, Jonathan (20 May 2012). "[Mother's Day] The house of Gogna". Rappler. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  5. ^ Punay, Edu (January 11, 2017). "Gov't targets Indians in '5-6' lending scheme". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. ^ Sibonga, Glen P. (23 April 2010). ""Shivaker" is now a full-fledged Pinoy". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Sam YG now a Filipino citizen". GMA News. Apr 21, 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  8. ^ Gil, Baby (February 2, 2015). "Reading Boys Night Out". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  9. ^ a b Gonzalez, Bianca (15 January 2012). "A night out with the Boys". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  10. ^ Salanga, Elyas Isabelo (11 January 2010). "Shivaker is now more popular than the real Sam YG". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Maricel Soriano graces Diz Iz It! premiere telecast". Philippine Entertainment Portal. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Sam YG is Our July Cover Guy". 29 June 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  13. ^ Interaksyon (2023-10-06). "Sam YG resigns from radio station Magic 89.9: 'End of an era'". Interaksyon. Retrieved 2023-10-06.