Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr.[1][2] (born September 12, 1982), is a Filipino businessman who is known for being the co-founder of the multi-level marketing company, Frontrow. He is also serving as the representative of the Tutok To Win Party-List in the House of Representatives since 2022.
Sam Verzosa | |
---|---|
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Tutok To Win | |
Assumed office June 30, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Post established |
Constituency | Party-list |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Salonga Verzosa Jr. September 12, 1982 Manila, Philippines |
Political party | Tutok To Win |
Domestic partner | Rhian Ramos (since 2022) |
Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (BS) |
Occupation | Businessman |
Early life and education
editSamuel Verzosa Jr. was born in September 12 1982 in Manila.[1][3][4] He is the eldest son of five siblings and spent his childhood growing up in Sampaloc. He attended Angelicum College for his elementary and high school studies, and he took up bachelor's degree in civil engineering when he entered the University of the Philippines Diliman.[5]
Career
editBusiness career
editVerzosa learned about the direct selling and multi-level marketing (MLM) industries while he was preparing for his engineering board examinations. He joined a direct-selling company, where he met RS Francisco. When the company closed, the two decided to establish Frontrow International in 2009.[5][6] Frontrow also maintains the E-Skwela program, where the MLM provides Internet and printing hubs for school use in far-flung areas as part of its corporate social responsibility. Frontrow has partnered with the Ang Probinsyano Partylist for this program's implementation.[7][8][9]
Frontrow also sponsored Willie Revillame's Tutok to Win program. Revillame is a close friend of Verzosa.[10][11] Frontrow is also a partner of the Miss Universe Organization.[12]
Verzosa also manages the Modena Motorsports company, which distributes Maserati cars in the Philippines.[13][14][15] He is also a part-owner of the Manila Batang Sampaloc basketball team.
Political career
editVerzosa was named as the first nominee of the Tutok To Win Party-List for the 2022 elections.[16][17] The organization managed to win a seat.
As a House representative for the 19th Congress, Verzosa became vice chairman of the Poverty Alleviation, Socual Services, Welfare of Children, and Disaster Resilience committees.[18] Among his bills filed are the Poor Job Applicants Discount Act, which seeks to provide a 20 percent discount to government-issued pre-employment documents for indigent jobseekers,[19] and the E-Skwela Act which aims to institutionalize Frontrow's E-Skwela program under the government.[20]
In October 2024, Verzosa filed his candidacy to run for Mayor of Manila in 2025 as an independent candidate.[21]
Television
editVerzosa is the presenter of the public service series Dear SV which features stories from various Filipino individuals. Its pilot episode aired in February 2023 in CNN Philippines.[22] The series returned in GMA Network premiering on November 18, 2023.[23]
Following Revillame's return to television via TV5, he became a co-host of Wil To Win.
Personal life
editVerzosa has actress Rhian Ramos as his girlfriend. He first publicized his relationship with Ramos in August 2022.[24][25]
In November 2024, Verzosa filed a libel case with the Manila City Prosecutor's Office against Daily Tribune columnist Estrella "Star" C. Elamparo for alleged fake news publication ("Celebrities and cheating at NYCM?") implying that he and Ramos cheated in their participation at the New York City Marathon. She also faces a Cebu City arrest warrant for a separate defamation case.[26]
Awards and nominations
editIn November 2024, laureate Verzosa received the Gusi Peace Prize at the Manila Metropolitan Theater. The youngest Filipino to be honored, Verzosa was a philanthrophist since 2009.[27]
References
edit- ^ a b Verzosa, Sam (September 30, 2024). "Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor" (PDF). Commission on Election. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ "House Members: Hon. Verzosa, Samuel Jr. S." House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Bravo, Frances Karmel (September 13, 2022). "Rhian Ramos greets her "booboo" Sam Verzosa on his birthday". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
On September 12, 2022, the Kapuso actress greeted Sam on his birthday by uploading a photo of them getting cozy by the patio.
- ^ "James Reid, Nadine Lustre, celebrities flock to P7M party of entrepreneur Sam Verzosa". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. September 19, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
Sam (right) celebrated his 30th birthday last Saturday, September 16
- ^ a b "Sam Verzosa, the boy wonder of Sampaloc, Manila". CNN Philippines. February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Puyat, Leah. "Frontrow Founders RS Francisco And Sam Verzosa Believe That, Indeed, Sharing Is Caring". Metro.style. ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ "'Tutok' party-list representative vows to build more 'e-schools' in PH". Manila Bulletin. November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Pacpaco, Ryan Ponce (October 31, 2020). "11 Frontrow E-skwela Hubs Opened". Journal Online. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "First e-Eskwela hub rolled out in Baguio". Sunstar. August 25, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ PEP Troika. "Willie Revillame, magkahalo ang emosyon sa paglisan sa GMA-7". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Solis, Lolit. "Willie, puring-puri ng CEO Frontrow" [Willie, high praises for Frontrow CEO]. The Philippine Star (in Filipino). Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Lo, Ricky. "The other half of Frontrow". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ "Motostrada expands by handing over 'Trident' and adding new 'Horseman' to its growing business". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 15, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Ipapo-Tuason, Jeanette (April 7, 2021). "New Era: Sam Verzosa Takes His Passionate Leadership To Maserati Philippines". Lifestyle Asia. One Mega Group. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Gabinete, Jojo (March 5, 2020). "Frontrow International, naglabas ng statement sa reklamo ng dating miyembro". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (May 8, 2022). "Big crowds flock Tutok to Win Partylist rally in Batasan". Philippine Daily Inquirer (in English and Filipino). Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (October 7, 2021). "Businessman seeks House seat to represent 'underprivileged'". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Godinez, Bong; Orsal, Noel (October 10, 2022). "Humble beginnings push businessman-politician Sam Verzosa to focus on reducing poverty". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (September 23, 2022). "Rep. Verzosa wants 20% discount on gov't documents for poor job seekers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (September 16, 2022). "Tutok To Win party-list wants establishment of E-Skwela hubs nationwide". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Escuadro, Kiko (October 6, 2024). "Sam Verzosa formalizes Manila mayoralty bid". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Bracamonte, Earl D. C. (March 6, 2023). "Entrepreneur solon shares rags-to-riches story as outreach TV program premieres". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Jusay, Annalyn (November 22, 2023). "'Dear SV': Sam Verzosa joins girlfriend Rhian Ramos in GMA Network". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Siazon, Rachelle (August 2, 2022). "Rhian Ramos makes relationship with Sam Verzosa public". PEP.ph (in English and Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ "Rhian Ramos, Sam Verzosa go public with romance". ABS-CBN News. August 3, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Ranara, John (November 20, 2024). "Sam Verzosa files cyber libel case against columnist". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Rep. Sam Verzosa honored with Gusi Peace Prize International Award". msn.com. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
External links
edit- Media related to Sam Verzosa at Wikimedia Commons
- Samuel S. Verzosa IMDb
- Hon. Verzosa, Samuel Jr. S. House of Representatives of the Philippines