For a naturally fair girl, Sam Rodriguez wears a tan well. Having spent the Labor Day weekend in Balesin, she jokes, “If you see what’s going in (my swimsuit), it’s crazy,” referring to her tan lines.
Known in some circles as the daughter of late Palibhasa Lalake actor Miguel Rodriguez, Sam burst on the scene in the grandest way: with a billboard along EDSA, endorsing a brand of whitening lotion for Bench Body alongside fellow showbiz offspring Addie Manzano and Dominique Cojuanco.
Since then, she’s maintained a steady presence with a smattering of gigs: hosting at this year’s Art Fair Philippines, a week-long acting stint on TV5’s Wattpad Presents: Poser, and most recently, as a certified Nike N+TC Trainer where she sometimes hosts live training sessions with the brand.
Pursuing three careers at once means she has to get away from time to time. “I do go to the beach a lot, I just came from Balesin this weekend and two weeks ago, I was in Puerto Galera. I try to visit different beaches at a time,” she says. One of her more memorable trips was to Bali last year with her brother and their friends. “We did a four-day Bali trip, and that was super fun. There was nightlife, spas, everything was complete!”
However, there is a salty pickle that she encounters every time she hits the water: “When you’re on the beach with other people and you take off your flip-flops, you come back, and you don’t know which ones are yours!”
While she could always pick out a unique pair at the store, there’s no guarantee that someone she knows won’t pick the same ones. “I always try find a pair that stands out, (which is why) I’m so excited for Make Your Own Havaianas!” she exclaims. “They’re really the go-to flip-flops. They’re really, really durable, lightweight, and stylish. I get the ones with thin straps, so the tan lines aren’t so bad.”
Two days ago, Sam attended an exclusive vintage Hawaiian luau held by the brand where she celebrated the 10th year of Make Your Own Havaianas, and customized her own pair. “I chose the light pink sole with rose gold straps and the pineapple and ukulele pins. I thought it was very dainty! The color combo was to die for. And I chose pins that reminded me of summer—tropical fruits and beach music,” she explains.
At the launch, Terry S.A. managing director Anne Gonzalez (a.k.a. the woman responsible for bringing in the brand from Brazil) said, “While Make Your Own Havaianas is held in different countries around the globe, it is only in the Philippines that it has grown so big that we needed to do it nationwide—simultaneously to accommodate the Havaianaticos in the country.”
From today until May 10, not only will Make Your Own Havaianas be held in the Glorietta Activity Center, it will also happen simultaneously in Davao, Bacolod, Bacoor, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Lipa, Pampanga, Tarlac, Ilocos Norte, and Cebu. Also, for the first time, MYOH will be open in select All Flip-Flops branches and pop-up shops nationwide. (Pro-tip: register online, so you can head to the Express Lane!)
In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Havaianas also invites their most diehard fans to join their Say Aloha to Hawaii contest and win a trip to Honolulu. To join, just upload a Hawaiian-inspired photo on Instagram, and caption with the answer: Why do you deserve to experience the Aloha Spirit in Honolulu, Hawaii? Be sure to tag @havaianasphils, #MYOH2015, and #SayAlohaHawaii in your post!
Having gotten her pair already, Sam is ready to take them with her on her next beach trip. “I would love to visit the Maldives. I heard it’s stunning there! But in the Philippines, I actually haven’t been to Palawan. That’s definitely (part of) my near-future plans.”
To register online, see a complete list of locations where you can Make Your Own Havaianas, and join the brand’s Say Aloha to Hawaii contest, visit the MYOH website. Follow Havaianas Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Photos by Artu Nepomuceno
Styled by Randz Manucom
Production design by Justine Arcega-Bumanlag of SaSO Greenhouse Design Studio
Makeup by Al De Leon for MAC
Hair by Dennis Durano for Bench Fix