Ngayong kasama na siya sa bagong afternoon series na Koreana, unti-unti nang binabalewala ng StarStruck V Ultimate Male Survivor na si Steven Silva ang mga naging pintas sa kanya ng ibang tao, lalo na noong siya ang tanghaling winner sa reality-based artista search ng GMA-7.

The 23-year-old Filipino-Chinese-Portuguese admits he gets frustrated kapag may nababasa siyang hindi magagandang sinasabi tungkol sa kanya. Marami kasi ang pumipintas sa hitsura niya at sinasabing hindi raw siya pang-leading man.

Para sa isang baguhan na tulad na Steven, masakit daw na mabasa 'yon. Kung normal lang daw siyang tao at wala sa showbiz, hindi raw siya mapipintasan ng kahit sino lang.

"It hurts a lot, especially the first few months when I was new in this business," sabi ni Steven sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

"I read a lot of these hurtful comments on the Internet, on the newspaper. It's pretty much a hard thing to swallow but I know that it's all part of what I got into.

"What really got me was when they commented that I don't look like an artista. I look like a cartoon or I speak like a robot. Hindi raw ako marunong umarte. I mean, these are words that really hurt someone like me who is new in showbiz.

"But my friends tell me to suck it all up. There's nothing I can do now. I'm into this business and I won a reality show. I wouldn't have won if many people didn't believe in me.

"So the best thing to do is to make these negative things into a positive thing. And my friends are right, just try to suck it up and everything will be okay."

TROUBLE WITH THE LANGUAGE. Isa sa naging frustration ni Steven ay ang pagsasalita ng Tagalog. Lumaki kasi si Steven sa U.S. at hindi niya nakasanayan ang ibang lengguwahe, not until umuwi siya sa Pilipinas dahil sa StarStruck.

"I am doing a lot better now," sabi niya. "I've been reading some Tagalog materials like comics, tabloids, and I'm taking up classes. Mas marami na akong alam ngayon, unlike before.

"I can understand a few Tagalog words now. But you have to talk it to me slowly so I can give a response in Tagalog as well.

"It's hard work but I have to do it or else I'll be sent back home! And I don't want that to happen. Gusto kong gawin ito talaga."

Mabuti naman daw at sa Koreana ay pinagsasalita siya sa Korean language. Hindi raw mahirap for Steven dahil kumuha siya ng two-month course in speaking Korean.

"I took that up when I was still in San Francisco. We are required to take up a language course. So Korean was on top of the list. Maybe it has something to do with the Culinary Arts course we were taking up.

"So I know the basic words used by Koreans like annyeong which means hello; kamsahamnida which means thank you; hwangyong-hamnida which means welcome; eotteohke jinaeseyo which means how are you?; annyeong hashimnikka which is good morning/good afternoon/good evening; annyonghi jumushipsiyo which is good night; annyeong is goodbye; hangukmak hasil jul aseyo? means do you speak Korean?; and the most popular sarang hae that means I love you."