Akihiro Sato HOT HOT Pictures

Akihiro Sato hopes to repeat last year's Cosmo Bash success

. Among the featured centerfolds for the 2009 Cosmopolitan Bachelor Bash, we could say that Brazilian model and Celebrity Duets contestant Akihiro Sato has the most pressure on him.

At the Cosmo Bash last year, Akihiro was the most applauded among the bachelors. He has to prove consistency this year as the crowd is now more familiar with him.

"Well, I'm just thinking, what I'm gonna do with the show. I don't know what they will gonna ask for us to do. But I'm sure, walang top and it would gonna be fun. I believe, it's again an exciting thing to do for the Cosmopolitan Bachelor's 2009."

Dugtong pa niya, "Yung last year, it was really a privilege, an experience na lahat naman ng tao sa Pilipinas, gusto ko. I don't know. I'm just enjoying here and I'm just enjoying a lot in the Philippines especially the Filipinos are all nice."

Ikinuwento rin niya ang experience niya noong una siyang rumampa.

"The first time, I was really nervous. I don't know what to do but I was happy with the people's reaction. So, I hope this time, it would be more relaxing and comfortable."

Feeling naman ni Akihiro, kung ibe-base raw sa ginawa niyang pictorial for Cosmo Men, sexier raw yung last year where he was in bed, ngayon, mas "discreet" ang term na ginamit ni Akihiro.

"But I'm happy that for two years, I'm a part of the centerfolds. I just hope that more people are going to watch it."

CELEBRITY DUETS AND BIRTHDAYS. He's been preparing himself for the big night which will be on September 10 at NBC Tent.

"I'm doing more boxing this time, kasi it's giving me more good shape. Gusto ko kasi, more stronger ako. Last year, I was 72 kilos and now my weight is about 79, kaya mas malakas. Mas gusto ko yung weight ko ngayon. Kapag payat kasi ako, I look more younger."

Akihiro will turn 23 years old on Saturday, September 12. It will also be the day that Celebrity Duets will have its first elimination night.

"Yes, I don't know what will gonna happen," nakangiting pahayag niya.

"When it comes to my birthday, I don't know what will happen because it will also be my mother's birthday. We have the same day but she's in Brazil . So, I don't know. Honestly, I feel like I'm a bit missing her, so I'll talk to her. Maybe my management, Mercartor are preparing something but you know, it's also the night for Celebrity Duets."

Anong birthday wish niya?

"I wish that my mom could be here because we have the same day. But, maybe later," nakangiti pa rin niyang sabi.

Hindi ba kasama sa wish niya ang manalo sa Celebrity Duets?

"Oh, yes! It's actually my first time that I am singing and I don't know. Actually, it's mahirap. Kasi, hindi naman talaga ako singer pero, so far, okey naman. It's fun. I am enjoying, so, let's see what will gonna happen in the show."

Nag-e-expect ba siyang manalo?

"Well, it's more of I'm enjoying. In the first place, I am not a singer. More than the competition, I'm more after the experience and the fun."

Sa lahat ng mga contenders, sino ang nakikita niyang mahigpit niyang kalaban?

"Lahat naman malakas. But I think, malaka si Nonito Donaire, Jr. Also, the photographer, Niccolo [Cosme], and Gina Alajar. I like her sing."

Akihiro Sato: "It doesn't matter kung girls or gays."

. Diretsahang inamin ng Brazilian-Japanese model na si Akihiro Sato na crush niya ang Kapuso actress na si Iza Calzado.

"Oo, maganda siya. Pero hindi ko pa siya na-meet. Once ko pa lang siya nakita, sa anniversary ng GMA, we were introduced," sabi ni Akihiro sa panayam sa kanya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Aminado rin si Akihiro na attracted siya sa Filipina beauties.

Ayon sa kanya, "The Filipinas are very nice looking, very beautiful people, especially in showbiz. All the big artists and singers, they all look very pretty.

May plano ba siyang ligawan si Iza kung sakaling wala itong boyfriend?

Natawa muna si Akihiro bago sumagot. Aniya, "I don't know, but she's really a good actress and really pretty, she has all the characteristics that I'm looking for in a woman."

"IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE LOVED." Dahil guwapo at macho si Akihiro, marami siyempre ang nagkakagusto o nagpapantasya—mapa-babae man o mapa-bading. Paano niya ito naha-handle?

"Really? I get surprised when people tell me about it, that they have fantasies about me, that they like me. Whether babae or bakla, it's a privilege for me to be loved—it doesn't matter kung girls or gays," sagot niya.

Hindi ba homophobic si Akihiro?

No, because all the gays have good heart," aniya. "I am happy with all the compliments they say about me, that's why really masaya ako to be admired by them."

AKIHIRO'S NEW HOME. Successful ang mga Brazilian models dito sa Pilipinas. At si Akihiro, na isang Brazilian-Japanese, ang isa sa itinuturing na top male models ngayon sa bansa. Happy raw si Akihiro na lahat ay nabibigyan ng chance dito sa Pilipinas.

"Not just for me, for Brazilians. And thanks to the Filipinos, that they open opportunities for foreigners who come here, like a taste for everyone. Na why do people from other countries want to be actors in the Philippines, why not in Brazil, why not in America? You guys really showed me you're friendly, really showed me you like me," pahayag ni Akihiro.

Brazilian ang ina ni Akihiro at Hapon naman ang kanyang ama na parehong nasa Brazil. Sa siyam na buwang pamamalagi ni Akihiro sa Pilipinas, last Christmas at New Year lang ulit siya nakadalaw sa pamilya niya sa Brazil.

Mga kaibigan niyang Brazilian na naunang pumunta sa Pilipinas ang naghikayat kay Akihiro na subukan ang kanyang kapalaran dito.

"They advised me that I should try to go to the Philippines because I look like a Filipino," banggit ng hunky model.

Kaya isinantabi muna raw ni Akihiro ang kanyang Physical Therapy course sa Brazil at pumunta na rito sa Pilipinas.

CELEBRITY DUETS. Isa si Akhiro sa nine contenders ng Celebrity Duets Season 3, na hinu-host nina Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid. Ano bang klaseng mga kanta ang gusto niya?

"Hindi ko alam sa ngayon, because if they give me any song, I want to challenge myself. It doesn't matter what kind of song, I'll try," sagot niya.

Lahat daw ng klase ng kantang ibibigay sa kanya sa Celebrity Duets ay aawitin ni Akihiro.

Akihiro Sato plunges into acting via Handumanan

. Napuno ang CCP Little Theater nang ipalabas kagabi, July 22, ang Handumanan, entry for NETPAC Award sa ginaganap na Cinemalaya Film Festival sa Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ang Handumanan din ang first attempt ng Brazilian-Japanese model na si Akihiro Sato sa pag-arte. Ginagampanan niya rito ang papel ng isang modelo na hinahanap ang kanyang Filipina mother. But instead, he found romance with a novel writer, played by Chin Chin Gutierez.

All smiles si Akihiro nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). In fact, matagal pa bago namin siya nakausap after the screening dahil sa dami ng nagpapa-picture sa kanya.

"This is my first movie. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of nervousness. But I'm excited to do because this is my dream—to be an actor in the Philippines," sambit ng model turned actor.

Ano ba ang mga naging preparation niya since first time niyang sumabak sa pag-arte?

"We did a lot of workshop and voice language. All the preparations, one month before I did the movie."

Sinabi ni Akihiro na late last year daw nang i-shoot niya ang movie. Inamin din niya na next to modeling, ang pag-aartista ang isa sa mga pangarap niya, na feeling niya ay nagsisimula na rin niyang magawa.

Aware naman si Akihiro na kung may limitation man siya ngayon in terms of acting, ito ay ang pagsasalita niya ng Tagalog. Pero desidido raw siyang matuto nang mas mabilis.

"The teacher comes to my home and I study at least two hours a day. And it keeps going and I have friends who also help me with my Tagalog," sabi niya.

Pagkatapos nito ay nag-sample si Akihiro ng konting alam na niya na Filipino words.

"Medyo lang...naiintindihan ko, konti," nakangiting sabi niya.

Mukha namang walang inihibitions si Akihiro sa pagpapa-sexy dahil sa Handumanan, karamihan ng eksena niya ay topless siya.

"If you become an actor, I have to do whatever you want. Actually sexy, not expose so much. Beautiful movies, of course. I will follow the director," aniya.

How far can he go?

"Actually, basically, I'm a very conservative person. But I will follow the director as long as it's a good movie," sagot niya.

IS AKIHIRO A KAPUSO? Nakita na si Akihiro na kasama ng mga Kapuso stars na rumampa noong 56^th anniversary ng GMA-7 sa Araneta Coliseum. Kaya naman marami na ang nag-assume na isa na nga siyang Kapuso star.

Pero ayon sa kanya, "I still have to talk to my manager, Jonas Gaffud. We plan to do a show, movies, and soap opera."

Sino ba ang gusto niyang makapareha?

"Maraming babaeng maganda rito!" natatawa niyang sabi.

Pero sino ang pinakagusto niya?

"Gusto ko si Marian Rivera. Si Rhian Ramos and Carla Abellana...maganda sila," banggit niya.

Na-disappoint ba siya nang hindi si Marian ang makasama niya sa endorsement ng isang spa dahil nabalitang sila sana ang parehong mag-e-endorse nito?

"Well, I don't know because I had other talent, Karylle, she's a big talent. Such a nice person. And with Marian, I'll just wait for the next time, for the next opportunity. I'm not disappointed because I'm always happy," sabi niya.

PHILIPPINES OVER THAILAND. Bago nakilala si Akihiro rito sa Pilipinas, mas nauna siyang sumikat sa Thailand bilang modelo at balitang may offer din sa kanya roon na maging artista. Bakit mas pinili niya ang Pilipinas?

"Kasi mahirap ang kanilang language. Pero gusto ko rito sa Philippines. Kasi, the language Tagalog is, I think, I like more," sagot niya, na pinipilit pa ring mag-Tagalog.

Ano ang nakapagpa-attract sa kanya to stay in the Philippines for good?

"The people...like all the people support me," sagot ni Akihiro. "I don't know. I just feel so good here. I just can't explain, but I really like to stay here. Actually, I look more Filipino than being Japanese or Brazilian. That's why I love here. And I have my ID already, I'm a dual citizen now and I'll stay here for good."

Tanggap na raw ng pamilya niya ang desisyon niyang gawing tahanan ang Pilipinas.

"My family was here last month. They can visit me anytime and I can go there anytime. My family knows what is happening here. They know that I have work here and they are happy because they saw me very happy here."

Sayang nga lang at hindi namin nakumpirma kay Akihiro. Pero may nakapagsabi sa PEP na sa pagbabalik ng Celebrity Duets ay isa raw si Akihiro sa celebrity contestants na kasama sa show.

More of Akihiro Sato

Akihiro Sato: Extremely Hot!