Akihiro Sato (photo by WALDEN SADIRI)

The warmth of the people, the smiles, the appreciation and their “naturalness” are just some of the things that prompted international model-turned-actor Akihiro Maceda Sato to take part in the Kapuso Outreach Program’s Kapuso Volunteerism Project in Bacolod and Iloilo City recently.

“This is my second time to go to the provinces and it reminds me so much of myself because I also grew up in the province... they are very nice people. They are not fake. They don’t care about material things,” shared Akihiro who with GMAAC talents Rhian Ramos and Glaiza de Castro gave out hundreds of school supplies to kids in Iloilo.

“Well, it’s amazing for me especially to see Iloilo and other provinces. I haven’t been here before… I find it important to learn about the culture. I feel great and thankful for everything.”

Volunteering for such project is Akihiro’s way of giving back to the Filipino people for accepting and supporting a foreigner like him in show business. Akihiro is one of the few foreigners who are able to break language barriers and race to enter local showbiz.

“For me, I feel really special because I was given this opportunity and I grabbed it and I’m trying to do my best. For me I’m here to learn and I’m learning a lot. That’s why I’m really improving,” expressed Akihiro proudly.

A life in showbiz is a dream-come-true for Akihiro who started falling in love with acting when he was modeling. According to him, in all the commercials he did, he discovered that he enjoys playing and acting in front of the camera.

“I love acting. I became interested to learn to play in front of the camera and I wanted to learn more and acting has always been my dream,” Akihiro said with a smile.

Another reason he took a plunge into local showbiz are the English-speaking Filipino people which he deemed a good tool for him to be fluent with English as well as learn Tagalog. He compared his 10-month stay in the Philippines to his three-year stay in Thailand where he didn’t learn “good English.”

“In Thailand kasi mahirap to speak in English and I learned wrong English. I learned the wrong words. But in 10 months here I improved my English, and my Tagalog... I appreciate you guys speaking English, and then you guys are also friendly. I thought it is the same as in other countries I’ve been to. I was supposed to stay here for only three months but I found that you guys speak good English so I thought I can study here and I can learn more here. I thought maybe I could start my career in showbiz and then so many opportunities come to me here,” he explained.

Akihiro’s first step into showbiz though is not acting but singing in GMA-7’s “Celebrity Duets.” A feat he couldn’t believe he could even take part of.

“I was surprised when I was invited to sing in ‘Celebrity Duets’ because I couldn’t sing. I wanted to learn the language before I start in showbiz. But so many projects were coming so I was told to learn and work at the same time,” he related.

Is he confident to reach the finals of “Celebrity Duets?”

“I’m not confident. I don’t think I’ll reach the finals because it is really hard. I’m really shocked that I’m still here. I thought that I was the one, the first to get out. I told my manager that I would just enjoy because I would be the first to go but I’m still here. It’s all about the votes but if it’s about the singing, patay,” he laughed.

Akihiro is also fortunate that he immediately had a follow-up project with GMA-7’s “SRO” – “Moshi, Moshi I Love You” with actress-comedian Rufa Mae Quinto.

“It’s my first time doing acting on TV. I have a lot of pressure because Rufa Mae has been in the business for more than 15 years and she is a very good actress... I’m a new face so I’m scared. But she’ always playful so everything became natural for me. She’s a very simple person. I’m always scared to meet superstars coz I’m so shy. But she is so go-go-go,” he chuckled.

As for his love life, Akihiro is single but hopes to settle down with a Filipina someday.

“I have many things to do so I’m focusing on my career right now so I don’t think about my ‘love story.’ I’m very busy… I’m looking for a happy, funny and serious person. I like someone who is simple and natural. I don’t think about physical assets because what is important is here (he pointed to his heart). Siyempre if she is beautiful that’s a privilege,” described Akihiro who doesn’t also care if his future girlfriend has natural or “fake” boobs!

When asked to describe himself, the 23-year-old Akihiro said, “I’m just a happy and friendly person who likes to laugh because I like to discover new things in the world!”

That said, there would be more laughter coming from Akihiro soon as he is a celebrity ON THE RISE!