THREE SUCCESS STORIES

Activity: Analyze 1. 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 inner.
Pacquiao couldn't forgive his father for what he did so he left home, slept on
ardboard boxes, and sold bread on the streets just to make a meager living. At
that int, he also used boxing and won matches for $2 each, as a means of
escaping overty.

He soon moved to Manila and continued winning several boxing matches, but wen
the increased standards of living, he wasn't making enough to survive. He on got a
job at a local gym doing gardening, cleaning and construction while xing on the
side. He trained crazily all day and all night when possible, waking up earliest and
leaving the gym at the latest possible time. Early on, his severance and
determination to be a part of the boxing world swayed him 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.
would beat fighters from South Korea, Japan and Thailand and at the very young
of 19, he won his first World Champion title by beating Chatchai Sasakul, the ning
World Boxing Council (WBC) World Flyweight Champion at that time. The turning
ming 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.

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.
Source https www.kalibr.com/advice/2015/05/manny-pacquiao-success-story-
will-inspire-

2. The 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-
Philippine origin. She is Miss Philippines 2015. She symbolizes the deadly
combination of beauty with brains. Pia is a beauty-writer, chef and make-up artist

Pia Wurtzbach was born on 24 September 1989 in Stuttgart, Baden- Württemberg.

Her father is a German and her 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 did her secondary education from ABS- CBN
Distance Learning School in Quezon City. She studied Culinary Arts from the
Centre for Asian Culinary Studies, San Juan, Metro Manila.

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 prestigious 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 Pilipinas
2013. She was the 'first runner-up'. She participated in the 'Binibining Pilipinas
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 ball gown 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 Philippines. Source:

http://successstory.com/people/pia-alonzo-wurtzbac

3. 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

Esc

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
tearns 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)

Source: http://www.philstar.com/business-life/2014/06/30 great-doctor love-

affair-got-me-close-

Processing Questions:

1. Can you identify with any of the characters mentioned - Manny, Pia and Dr.
Rose? In what way?

2. What lessons can you learn from the character you have chosen?
3. How would you like your life story to be told?

A REAL WINNER is one who is able to:

win over his/her battles and difficulties in life and turns them into a learning and
glorifying experience;

find meaning in pleasant and unpleasant events in his

life:

live in peace with difficult people and difficult situations;

win the goodwill of others, their respect and admiration;

get what he wants using win-win strategies; never at the expense of others;

discover and use opportunities to his best advantage;

develop and use his talents and abilities to the best advantage and in so doing,
make meaningful contribution in making this world a better place to live in.

Source: Roldan, Amelia S. (2003). On Becoming a Winner: A Workbook on

Personality Development and Character Building. AR Skills Development and
Management Services (SDMS), Paranaque City, Metro Manila.

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