Romance could be blossoming on the personal side of Sarah Lahbati’s life.
Almost a week after Sarah celebrated her 33rd birthday, the actress continues to draw attention over speculation surrounding her relationship with Mikhail Schemm, an entrepreneur and live entertainment executive.
Although Mikhail has largely kept his personal life away from the spotlight, his recent appearances alongside Sarah have prompted curiosity about the man who may have captured her heart.
Beyond the dating rumors, however, lies a vibrant life that has taken him across cities and cultures, shaped by a diverse range of creative pursuits.
From his multicultural upbringing to the family member who first sparked his interest in electronic music, here’s what to know about Mikhail Schemm.
Read: Has Sarah Lahbati hard-launched her rumored new boyfriend?
EARLY LIFE
Name, Birthday, Age
Mikhail Schemm, also known to friends as Mik, was born on April 23, 1987, in Hong Kong. He turned 39 years old in 2026.
Hometown
Born in Hong Kong, Mikhail spent his formative years in Rome, Italy, before moving to London, where he lived for seven years.
He later spent time in Berlin before establishing himself in Manila.
His international upbringing is reflected in his ability to speak English, German, and Italian, as well as some French, Spanish, and Tagalog.
In a September 2013 interview with Philstar.com, Mikhail spoke about growing up in Rome and eventually moving to London, where he worked at a marketing consultancy while pursuing his interest in electronic music.
His life across different cities also brought him into contact with music communities beyond the Philippines—experiences that would later inform his work in the local electronic music scene.
Family
Mikhail was born to a Swiss-German father and a Filipino mother, giving him a multicultural background that he shares with his younger sister, Marga Schemm.
Marga, who is three years younger than her brother, has established herself in the luxury fashion industry.
The siblings discussed their experiences growing up with different cultural influences in a June 2021 feature published by RAWMAGS Online, a bi-monthly magazine for Filipinos in Europe.
Marga described her upbringing as “something beautiful as it has allowed me to see the world without boundaries or horizons, and the exposure to different cultures allows me to relate to others easily.”
Mikhail added, “It’s more like the various identities co-exist."
Outside his immediate family, Mikhail has also credited his uncle, Manolet Dario, a renowned Filipino DJ, for introducing him to the music that would eventually become central to his career.
In a September 2019 feature by Attack magazine titled “Manila: Music Is the Answer to Keep on Moving,” Mikhail recalled an experience at the legendary beach club Hey Jude in Boracay when he was around 15 years old.
It was there that he witnessed his uncle play the influential electronic dance track by American producer Derrick May.
“When my uncle played ‘Strings of Life,’ I knew from there—I’m hooked,” Mikhail recalled.
The moment was not the first time he had spoken about his uncle’s influence.
In an earlier interview with Philstar.com, published on September 14, 2013, Mikhail traced his interest in music to his early teens, when he listened to dance music CDs his mother used for her gym sessions.
He later became interested in the music his uncle played and the mix CDs Manolet gave him.
“I got into music when I was about 12 or 13 years old, listening to my mom’s dance music CDs she used for the gym, and a bit later through my uncle Manolet Dario,” Mikhail told Philstar.com.
“He would give me mix CDs which I would listen and dance to back home! From then on I became passionate about it and got my first pair of decks at 16 while living in Rome.”
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EDUCATION
St. George’s British International School, Rome
Before attending university in London, Mikhail studied at St. George’s British International School in Rome, Italy, where he completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
Founded in 1958, St George’s is an independent international school that combines the British curriculum with globally recognized academic qualifications. Its diverse student community represents more than 100 nationalities.
SOAS University of London
Mikhail subsequently attended SOAS University of London, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Southeast Asian Studies and Management from 2007 to 2011.
Located in Bloomsbury, central London, SOAS is a specialist university known for its focus on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Its academic offerings span languages, cultures, politics, history, and the social sciences, as well as management and other disciplines.
His degree also coincided with the period when he was becoming involved in London’s underground electronic music scene, where he helped organize warehouse parties while working in marketing.
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CAREER
DJ Mikhail
His first proper gig came at around 17, when he played at a friend's birthday party.
His musical pursuits eventually took him to London's underground electronic music scene, where he organized FunkyZeit, a warehouse-party series that ran for four years and attracted thousands of music fans each month.
The events featured international artists, including Jamie xx, Bicep, and Nina Kraviz.
Mikhail also spent time in Berlin, where he worked with electronic music producer Richie Hawtin.
His musical influences include house, techno, disco, electro, and world music.
Beyond performing, Mikhail became involved in music distribution through More Rice, an Asia-based, vinyl-only record label he co-founded in 2017.
UNKNWN / CC:Concepts
After gaining experience in Europe's music scene, Mikhail turned his attention to Manila, where he co-founded UNKNWN, an events brand focused on electronic music and dance-oriented gatherings.
The venture organized events across the city and beyond, bringing together local audiences and international artists.
He also became part of the founding team behind 20:20, a Manila nightclub dedicated to electronic music.
Mikhail's involvement in the local entertainment industry expanded in 2017 when he co-founded CC:Concepts—an events and live entertainment company established to bring diverse live experiences to Filipino audiences.
He served as the company's managing director, and helped bring international performers to the Philippines and develop productions that extended beyond conventional concerts and club events.
The company's projects included Call Me by Your Name in Concert in 2018 and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Concert in 2019, pairing film screenings with live orchestral performances of their soundtracks.
The company's bookings also included international acts such as A$AP Ferg, Jaden Smith, Four Tet, and Breakbot & Irfane.
In 2019, Mikhail was named one of Tatler Asia's Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow in the Philippines, recognizing emerging individuals making an impact in their respective industries.
Film Concerts PH subsequently developed productions pairing popular films with live orchestral performances.
These include Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert and The Symphonic World of Studio Ghibli, the latter being presented as an official event of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Year 2026.
Read: J.K. Rowling pinasaya ang isang young Harry Potter fan sa Palawan
Third Culture Entertainment
Mikhail founded Third Culture Entertainment in March 2024, a venture that allowed him to work into a broader range of live entertainment and immersive experiences.
The company focuses on intellectual-property-based and location-based entertainment, combining established entertainment properties with live performances and interactive experiences across the Asia-Pacific region.
Its ventures include Film Concerts PH, Immersive PH, and Zero Latency VR Philippines. The group has also expanded into Vietnam through Film Concerts VN.
Before this, Mikhail gained experience in business strategy, marketing, partnerships, and destination experiences while working in Singapore, Milan, and Manila.
His latest venture builds on his experience in event production and business development.
Rather than concentrating solely on music events, Third Culture Entertainment develops experiences that allow audiences to engage with familiar entertainment properties in different formats.
PERSONAL LIFE
Hobbies
In the same RAWMAGS interview, an excerpt described Mikhail this way: “You are most likely to find him either indulging in his passion for culture and music or outdoors, bouldering, climbing and trekking.”
Based on what he shares on social media, the description seems consistent with his interests.
Mikhail's posts offer glimpses of an adventurous lifestyle, from exploring different places to spending time with friends.
His multicultural upbringing may also have helped shape his appreciation for different cultures and perspectives.
Having grown up across several European cities before establishing himself in Manila, he has been exposed to different social environments throughout his life.
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Mikhail's rumored romance to Sarah Lahbati
Social circles in Metro Manila's nightlife and entertainment scene may have known Mikhail for years, but his name has only recently drawn wider attention from showbiz fans following speculation about his relationship with actress Sarah Lahbati.
The StarStruck Season 5 winner marked her 33rd birthday on October 9, 2026, but it was a mystery man featured in her Instagram Stories who caught the attention of netizens.
The man, who referred to her as a “wonder woman” in his birthday greeting, was later identified through online sleuthing and reposted photographs as Mikhail Schemm, a concert executive.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) reported on October 9 that Sarah had seemingly hard-launched her rumored boyfriend.
The publication traced the Instagram account “Schmikmikmik” through reposted photographs and found a link to Third Culture Entertainment, the company with which Mikhail is associated.
Sarah offered another glimpse of their apparent closeness in the days following her birthday.
On October 11, she shared videos from her celebration, including moments with friends and Mikhail. In one clip, he presented her with a birthday cake and kissed her on the cheek.
A photograph shared by celebrity doctor Dr. Z Teo and his wife, Aivee Teo, also carried the caption “Celebrating the birthday of Sarah Lahbati. Double date,” adding to speculation about the pair's relationship.
Sarah later posted a carousel of photographs from the celebration, featuring her sons, her mother, and moments from the party, including a picture with Mikhail.
She captioned the post simply, “Happy.”
Neither Sarah nor Mikhail has publicly confirmed the nature of their relationship.
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