Manny Pacquiao's Unbelievable Success Story Will
Inspire You
It's 1990 in the province of General Santos in the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao is 12 years old. Pacquiao often
speaks of his debt to his maternal uncle, Sardo Mejia, who introduced him to boxing after he dropped out of school. It
was this moment that would spark an unforeseen passion and drive in Pacquiao to be one of the best boxers in the entire
world. According to his autobiography, he describes watching Mike Tyson's shocking defeat to James "Buster" Douglas
in 1990 on television with his uncle as an experience that "changed [his] life forever." In his hometown, he set up an
open-for-all boxing match and beat every opponent who came. He was well on the road of transforming himself from a
lanky school dropout to a junior boxing champion.
Despite his success, his family was still living in extreme poverty and hunger. They became so desperate to the
point that his father had to kill his pet dog for dinner. Pacquiao couldn't forgive his father for what he did so he left home,
slept on cardboard boxes, and sold bread on the streets just to make a meager living. At that point, he also used boxing
and won matches for $2 each, as a means of escaping poverty. He soon moved to Manila and continued winning several
boxing matches, but given the increased standards of living, he wasn't making enough to survive. He soon got a job at a
local gym doing gardening, cleaning and construction while boxing on the side. He trained crazily all day and all night
when possible, waking up the earliest and leaving the gym at the latest possible time. Early on, his perseverance and
determination to be a part of the boxing world swayed him to cheat and add on some weights to meet the featherweight
class requirements.
As the fights got more serious, Pacquiao started getting more famous as well. He would beat fighters from South
Korea, Japan and Thailand and at the very young age of 19, he won his first World Champion title by beating Chatchai
Sasakul, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) World Flyweight Champion at that time.
[Link] The turning point for Pacquiao came when he won against world-
class featherweight boxer Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome in Texas with a TKO. After that fight, he was
recognized internationally as a force to be reckoned with. [Link] Today, at
37, he is one of the most respected boxers. Despite his loss during the Mayweather match, he still has won the hearts of
many boxing fans both in the Philippines and worldwide. His one-of-a-kind story will continue to inspire and it will
always portray the journey of what millions of Filipinos continue to aspire for.
Pia Wurtzbach Success Story
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was crowned “Miss Universe” at the 64-Miss Universe 2015 pageant held at Las
Vegas, Nevada, USA. Pia is an actress and model of German-Phillipine origin. She is Miss Phillipines 2015. She
symolises the deadly combinaion of beauty with brains. Pia is a beauty-writer, chef and make-up artist.
Pia Wurzbach was born on 24 Sepember 1989 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. Her father is a German
and mother is a Filipino. Pia has a younger sister. Pia was named in keeping with the Philippines' tradition. Her
middle name 'Alonzo' is her mother's maiden name.
Pia ventured into the world of glitz and glamour at the tender age of fourteen. She joined an acting and
modelling agency for children, 'Star Magic Talent'. Pia got a break in television when she featured in K2BU, a
series for teenagers, the romance collection, 'Your Song' and the concert programme, 'ASAP'. Pia has acted in
films; 'All My Life', 'All About Love' and 'Kung Ako Na Lang Sana'.
Pia was the brand ambassador for 'Avon Teen' for a period of five years. She has graced the cover of
several presigious fashion magazines. Pia writes for the 2bU column of 'Inquirer Lifestyle'. She is popular as Pia
Romero, her screen name.
Pia is a pageant title-holder. Her first beauty contest was the 'Binibining Philipinas 2013'. She was the 'first
runners-up'. Pia participated in the 'Binibining Philipinas 2015' as a representative of Cagayan de Oro and won the
title, paving the path for bigger victories.
Pia Alonzo walked away with the “Miss Universe” title at the Miss Universe Pageant 2015 held
on December 20 at The Axis, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The 26-year old beauty set the stage
ablaze with her poise, incredible class and talent in her exotically gorgeous ballgown and
costumes. Pia was crowned by her predecessor, Paulina Vega.
As Miss Universe, Pia aspires to lead the youth and spread awareness about HIV, especially in
Phillipines.
A love affair that got me close to a great doctor
I am blissfully married and a proud mother to three young men. My husband Leo knows that I am also engaged in another
love affair, a sweet and enduring one. And he approves, so do my sons.
This love affair is with research, and it started during my pediatric residency training. I can still remember vividly the
excitement and the long nights, the discovery of meaningful developments, the joy of reading medical journals, the eagerness
to prepare something thorough and relevant. The excitement I felt continued up to my postgraduate internship, my fellowship
in infectious diseases and it has lasted till now. My husband was never jealous and my relationship with my sons never
soured despite this other ongoing and never-ending love affair. I could not ask for more. This is the best life.
So last May 23, the family accompanied me to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to attend the 107th annual convention hosted by the
Philippine Medical Association (PMA). Being included as one of the 15 finalists for the coveted Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial
Awards is a proud moment for my family. With them around, I was the proudest wife, mom and doctor.
While individual citations were being read on stage for the top awardees for Community Leadership (Dr. Purisima A. Bueno),
Government Service (Dr. Maria Victoria M. Abesamis), Clinical Practice (Dr. Bonaleth M. De Vera) and Academe (Dr. Estrella
B. Paje-Villar), I never expected that the final citation was all about the fruits of my other love affair, with research.
“Lead investigator for the much-awaited clinical trials on the multivalent dengue vaccine…” “repeatedly cited by researchers
here and abroad…” “served as the springboard for the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) of the Department of
Health…” “provided the evidence and the science…” “extended her work to the communities…” “greater things to come that
will benefit science, medicine and the Filipino people…” “epitomizes the virtues of Dr. Jose P. Rizal…” “…love of country and
service to our countrymen…” All these brought me back to the past 30 years of my medical, family and community life.
My love affair with research did not happen overnight. It was a journey that began with a case presentation as a first-year
pediatric resident, and a prospective study on how to prevent early jaundice in newborns. My recommendation that a nursery
should always be facing the direction the sun rises so that a newborn can benefit from exposure to morning sunlight won the
top prize for the hospital’s annual research competition. This did not happen once. It was a back-to-back win for three straight
years. I got hooked. Who would not be? Year 1991 was my first immersion in dengue research. Twenty-three years later, I am
now the lead investigator of the country’s clinical trials for dengue vaccine, in the countries where dengue is a major public
health problem. It’s a vaccine the medical community worldwide is waiting for.
In Vigan, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) bore witness to the conferment of the award. The title comes with a
specially designed trophy in the image of Dr. Jose P. Rizal by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva, a gold medallion, free trip
to the United States to attend the convention of the American Academy of Family Physicians and P150,000 worth of
medicines that I can share with a civic organization of my choice.
Was it just a coincidence or pure fate that it is also the 23rd year of the presentation of the prestigious Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Memorial Awards? If the number “23” is a coincidence, what a joyful one. If this is destiny, let me accept it with gratitude.
This award is a fitting tribute to those who have encouraged and inspired me to continue my love affair with research —
participants and their families as well as my teams in clinical trials, officials of the local health, school and government units,
the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, collaborators/ partners and sponsors of my researches, Basaynon Katiguban,
Inc. and my town mates in Basey, Samar, who continue to show resiliency despite the tragedy during the super typhoon
Yolanda, the Philippine Pediatric Society and Manila Medical Society for the recognition of my works and the nomination.
For more than three decades, I have never felt happier and accomplished than when doing medical research. It is tiring but
exciting, demanding yet humbling, intimidating but empowering, exacting yet fulfilling. My work is my loving tribute to a great
Filipino and a fellow doctor, Jose P. Rizal, MD.
***
Dr. Rose Zeta Capeding is the 23rd Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Awardee for Research. She is currently the head of the
Microbiology Department of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and head of the Dengue Research Group.
She is the head, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Asian Hospital and Medical Center.
