2. Nick Roumonada
Survived Bacterial Meningitis,
resulting in below-knee amputation
at age 13.
Completed multiple triathlons
and marathons including the 2010
New York City Marathon in sub-4
hours.
3. A Persevering Boy
Years ago, there was a boy born to poor
parents in Bukidnon in Southern Philippines. He is
the fourth of six siblings. His parents separated
when he was in Grade 6. He dropped out of high
school due to extreme poverty. His mother, a single
parent raising 6 children, was not earning enough for
the family. This boy promised that he would
everything to become rich and successful.
4. At the age 14, the boy went to
Manila and lived on the streets for a
time until he started boxing and made it
to the Philippine National Amateur
Boxing Team, which paid for his room
and board. Being a responsible young
man, he worked extra hard, taking on
odd jobs as a laborer to earn enough
money to send to his family in Sarangani.
5. Every single day, this young man
worked hard and persisted until he got
his first break in 1995 at the age 16,
standing 4’11” tall. He steadily worked out
and increased his weight to qualify for
the light weight division. To date, after
16 years, the man had won eight world
titles. He was also the first to win the
lineal championship in five different
weight divisions.
6. In 2007, he ran for congressional seat in
General Santos City and lost. People said that he
was not qualified to become a lawmaker because he
had no proper education. He then attended classes
under Alternative Learning System (ALS). In the
same year, he took the school equivalency
examination and was awarded high school diploma
by the DepEd. He then enrolled in Business
Management course in Notre Dame of Dadiangas
University. In 2009, he was conferred the
honorary degree (honoris causa) by the
Southwestern University in recognition of his
boxing achievements and humanitarian work.
7. In his desire to serve his people in Sarangani, he
enrolled in a graduate certificate course in Development,
Legislation, and Government at the development
Academy of the Philippines. In 2010, this man was
elected as Congressman of Sarangani Province.
He has been serving as a senator of the
Philippines since 2016, and previously served as party
president of the ruling party PDP–Laban (2020–2021),
and representative of Sarangani (2010–2016).
8. The boy born with humble
beginnings in Bukidnon, who grew
up to be world-renowned
“Fighter of the Decade” and a
respected public servant is now
addressed as Senator Manny
Pacquiao.
9. Perseverance
Is the continued pursuit of goals despite
failures and difficulties. It is the persistence to
accomplish the right goals at the right time
regardless of opposition.
10. The person who knows what he wants, makes his way
straight to the goal, and never gives up is a “persevering “
person. He has a steady and unwavering resolve to
accomplish the tasks at a given time and never stops until
he reaches his goals.
