27 unforgettable Pinoys I’ve met

The most awesome thing about my job as a host, writer and editor is that I get to meet so many amazing people. If only I had gotten everyone’s autographs and photos to collect all my memories! Here are the reasons why these 27 people are unforgettable:

Boy Abunda

He is always politically correct and real, never offensive nor condescending. He has helped so many new and even established personalities in the world of entertainment, as well as uplifted the lives of many especially in his hometown, Borongan, Samar. Best advice he’s given? “Stay true to your core.”

Karen Davila

Balancing broadcasting literally all day, an active social life, advocacy projects, and being a devoted mother and wife is extremely admirable. A major people person, she used to be hesitant to join social media, but now is addicted to it! She is the first to say, “Oh, picture! For Instagram!”

Kenneth Cobonpue

He may have been born to an affluent family but his massive success was brought about by a unique vision, 100-percent hard work and passion, and love for country. Who would have thought, he didn’t even pass the entrance exam for UP Fine Arts!

Ben Chan

He has brought the clothing industry to groundbreaking heights, and has also made almost every lifestyle product accessible to Pinoys. Insanely generous, the first time I actually met him was in 2006 when he spotted me in Bench Rockwell lining up, and he treated me to every item I was holding.

Jun De Leon

One of the most respected and admired fashion photographers known for his professionalism and talent. We once did a pictorial and he was so in the zone shooting that despite his very expensive lights falling in the water, he did not flinch and focused on taking the perfect shot.

Korina Sanchez

An institution in Philippine journalism, she is known for being a perfectionist, wanting to be on top of everything in front of and behind the camera. She may seem intimidating, but you will feel her gentleness through handwritten notes and letters she loves writing for friends and acquaintances.

Maria Ressa

She constantly finds new ways to present the news, now exploring the correlation of social media to the biggest news events and its effect on people’s behavior. Her “uniform” of choice is her suit or shirts-and-jeans combo, and she admits she doesn’t even remember the last time she wore a dress.

Liz Uy

One of the most in-demand celebrity stylists and endorsers, Liz has helped numerous photographers, designers and makeup artists break into and be successful in the industry. A believer in value for money, she admits that when she started, 80 percent of her closet was from ukay ukay.

Dado Banatao

This Silicon Valley visionary is uneasy when called a billionaire, and would rather humbly recall his journey from simple farmer’s son in Cagayan to making the computer and GPS what it is today. He is such a simple man that instead of being into all the latest smart phones, he prefers to use his “really old” Motorola Razr.

Atom Araullo

The boy every girl would love to bring home to mom — good looking and intelligent, socially aware and athletic, creative and a science whiz (the list goes on.) He bagged his hosting job with 5&Up when he shared the story of how he used to defend frogs on campus from bullies.

Ramon Bautista

To be a pop culture mover and write a best-selling book that Star Cinema turned into a movie is no common or easy feat. This writer, filmmaker and educator originally dreamed of being either an astronaut or a bus driver (because they got to go to Baguio all the time.)

Kenneth Yang

The man behind McDonald’s Philippines is admired for his vision and for his being down to earth. He is not afraid to poke fun at himself in front of his employees, having performed Psy’s Gentleman in full fashion (styled by wife Cindy) at their recent sales rally.

Manny Pacquiao

The Philippines is known the world over for having fine boxers thanks to Pacman’s achievements. There has been a lot of talk about his newfound spirituality, but Manny is so serious about it that he personally fixes tables, chairs and merienda for Bible studies in his Gen San home.

Pia Cayetano

Aside from being a senator, businesswoman, and super mom, she is a women’s rights advocate and certified Iron(wo)man. Would you believe she started training for triathlons in her late 30s? She turned grief into strength and proved it’s never too late to try new things.

Kris Aquino

From the pitch of her voice to her commanding presence, it is impossible to not notice when she walks into a room (or your TV.) Some may think she is all about herself, but Kris has the habit of checking up on friends randomly through SMS or sending little gifts.

Dr. Leo Garcia

He was that one college professor that changed my life. He taught philosophy and was one of the most well loved deans at Ateneo de Manila. His life changing advice: “Don’t ever let anyone underestimate what you are capable of, based on how you look physically.”

Ramon Ang

From his humble beginnings as a mechanic, to now heading one of the top corporations in the country, it’s refreshing to see how approachable RSA is. His eccentricities include wearing slippers at company dinners in hotels to inviting injured SMC team players for hilot sessions in his office.

Vilma Santos

Beyond being loved as the multi-awarded Star For All Seasons, she is the well-loved Governor of Batangas on her third term now. Going even beyond that, she is an ordinary proud mom who makes sure she gets to watch her son’s TV program, and on occasion will even text Luis, “Anak, straight body.”

Lea Salonga

She is the only Filipina to win both a Tony and Olivier award, the first Asian to play both Eponine and Fantine on Broadway, and the first Filipina Disney Legend. When she bagged the role of Kim, she hadn’t had a boyfriend yet, so she was terrified of the kissing scenes.

Bamboo Manalac

Dubbed by many as a “rock god,” how can he not feel like one when he hears thousands of people singing lyrics he wrote, Pinoy Ako or Hallelujah, in unison? This heartthrob only eats read meat once a month, and prefers really good steak since it’s only once a month.

Tony Oposa

An environmental lawyer whose case (“Oposa vs. Factoran,” 1993) is studied by every Filipino law student, as he fights for the right to a healthy environment. He was 25 when most of his body was burned in a fire, and he then vowed to make a significant impact with his life.

Carlos Celdran

This cultural activist and performance artist is most known for his amazing historical tours (and being sued for “offending religious feelings”). He first showcased his creative side as the artist of the comic strip “Bar Sins” in Business Mirror when he was 14.

Rio De La Cruz

A real rags-to-riches story of someone who pursued his passion for running, and turned it into a business and a movement. He couldn’t afford to go to a gym, and since water was scarce where he lived in Parañaque, he would fill drums and carry them as his weight training.

Tim Yap

He became an active multi-hyphenate before everyone else did, revolutionizing the local party scene. Some may think he had it easy, but this hardworking businessman worked his way to the top, starting off by sourcing props in Divisoria for theater plays when he was in high school.

Vice Ganda

Whether you love or hate his brand of humor, it is undeniable that he has changed the landscape of Philippine entertainment and how gays are portrayed. He did have a girlfriend back in 1993, and their first date was watching a Schwarzenegger movie where they also had their first kiss.

Gang Badoy

The founder of Rock Ed and an active supporter of the local art and music scene, Gang has the power to make different groups and sectors work together. Her open-mindedness may stem from her being the youngest child of two widowers and youngest among 15 siblings.

Reese Fernandez-Ruiz

She was named a Young Global Leader because of her efforts in creating the social enterprise model of Rags2Riches that turns what would be rags into quality bags. This driven career woman wasn’t thinking about love when she met the man of her dreams and got married at 25.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2013/07/28/1019941/27-unforgettable-pinoys-ive-met 

10 Things You Should Know About Apl.de.Ap.

The big Apl talks about his humble beginnings

He was a young boy with an eye condition, born to a Filipino mother and an African-American father, who just liked dancing on the streets of Sapang Bato in Angeles, Pampanga. Now, he is a Grammy Award-winning, international best-selling artist who performs in sold-out shows around the globe as one fourth of the Black Eyed Peas. How did he do it? Here are 10 things you should know about Apl.de.Ap.

1 He was born with an eye condition called nystagmus, and is considered legally blind. “But I’d never let that stop me.”

“It’s the muscle in your eye, it’s not stationary, it just keeps moving. So it’s harder to focus. When I was young I didn’t know how to control it, but as I grew up I learned to focus,” he explains. “Back then, when I would look at things, I’m like…” He shakes his head. “People are like, ‘Man, he always got a beat in his head! Ano kayang pinapakinggan niya,’” Apl laughs, remembering. “That did not stop me. I still played basketball and people were like, ‘You’re lying to us!’ My friends, they can’t beat me in pool or bowling. It’s all about measurements. I’d memorize things, I’d memorize the stage, I just do a lot of mental pictures.” So what does he see? “It’s not blurry, it’s more like I am nearsighted.”

“I had an operation last year where they put the lenses inside my retina. They put the actual lens inside my eye, so I wouldn’t have to put contacts,” he shares. He is soon adding a new program in his foundation, Apl Of My Eye, to provide the same equipment used in the US to help kids here. “There’s this new technology that they will be teaching doctors here that prevents retinal damage and blindness. It actually occurs a lot with premature babies. There’s a way to detect that. Having this condition, I wanna be able to provide that.”

2 Apl first showed interest in music as a child when he started breakdancing on the street, and was popular in the community because he knew all the new dance moves.

“Growing up, I’ve always kinda been into academics. I wanted to be an engineer or a nurse,” he reveals. “Going through school I had a hard time because of my eye condition, it was hard to see the board. It got me a little confused. ‘Okay, how am I gonna be an engineer if I can’t see perfectly or a nurse to give shots to patients?’

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“I started seeing kids breakdancing on the sidewalk. It started to intrigue me. Like, ‘Oh, I love doing it.’ It didn’t require too much of my vision. Then it just evolved from there. From breakdancing, I wanted to know where this music was coming from. Then I started learning how they produced it in the studio. I wanted to learn about the music, how they made it. Then I switched to producing and writing,” he shares.

Did he ever join dance contests as a kid? “Oh, definitely! I was always joining in Sapang Bato. Merong parang dance event every Saturday, and I always tried to do a new dance move. I remember seeing the Running Man on a Pepsi commercial on the UHF channel. ‘Oh, my God, ano yun? I gotta copy that!’ So I’d practice that. I’d go to the basketball court and dance. I got popular because I got the new moves but I didn’t win too many contests,” he says with a smile.

On Pinoy food he loved growing up: “I used to eat rice, gatas ng kalabaw –– and with salt. That would be our breakfast. A great breakfast! I loved champorado, tocino. I used to love tuyo, bagoong, suka and rice. To me that was the best.”

On Pinoy street games he loved as a kid: “I played patintero, siato, tumbang preso, taguan. I even played with the salagubang. You just tie a string around it and you run with it. Wheeeee!” he laughs. “Then the little wheel with a little hook, and I rolled around with that. A lot of basketball, too. My mom would get so mad because I would break my glasses a lot of times, they were so expensive! Makulit? Yeah, at some point. Like sometimes I’d be at the court and my mom would yell my name across the neighborhood, ‘Allaaaaaaaaan!’”

3 He moved to the US when he was 14, and at some point experienced discrimination not by American kids but by fellow Pinoys.

Apl’s adoptive father, Ben Hudgens, was the reason he moved to the US through the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, and they lived in LA where there is a huge Filipino community. “I remember my first friend, he used to breakdance, too. He had this dancer attire so I would wear the same thing, like we’re in a crew together, because when you’re in a crew you tend to dress alike. I didn’t know that was gangster attire –– he was in a gang. And every day after school we would get chased by other Filipinos. Then I’m like, ‘Dude why are we running from other Filipinos?’ They would ask where we’re from, anong gang kami. What? That didn’t make sense to me,” he recalls.

“It’s weird, like the Fil-Ams, there was a little bit of segregation. The Fil-Ams that were born there didn’t like to speak to the FOB, what they call ‘fresh off the boat.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ I just didn’t get it. Me, I was just breakdancing. So I was able to relate to everyone. With the Fil-Ams, they always mess with each other. To me, we’re all Pinoys, I don’t see any difference.” He shares he was never bullied by Americans, never got into any gang, and he thanks music for that. “Dancing, breakdancing, rapping, it’s a neutral thing for everyone. Music gave me that neutral lane to relate with everyone.”

4 The toughest thing he had to do to get to where he is today: “Leave.”

He takes the longest time to answer this question. “To leave. To leave my family at a young age. Leaving the Philippines, going to another country tens of thousands of miles away. That was pretty scary,” he shares. “Actually me and my mom, we made a pact. ‘No crying, okay? No crying!’ We’ve always talked about it. Me being adopted, I’m old enough, I’ll be okay, I’ll be able to go back home. But of course as soon as she said, ‘Bye,’ we were like, ‘Ooooooh,’” he says, recalling how he cried as a teenager. “That was pretty hard. That was probably the hardest.” He speaks fondly of his mother Cristina (who raised him and his six siblings as a single mother), but also of his adoptive father, Ben. “I got homesick a month later. ‘Oh, Dad, can you send me back home now, I wanna go home.’ ‘Oh, son, the papers are final and you’re here to stay, you’ll be able to go back home later when you get older.’”

He also lists being signed to Black Eyed Peas as one of the toughest experiences of his life. “That did not come easy,” he declares. “We did a massive amount of shows. We had to prove ourselves. We had to create a following. Back then there was just mailing list, no e-mail, no social media. After the show, we would take the addresses of the people that came then we would mail them a flyer to the next show. We did that for four years. We had to create a following to show the record company that our music was tangible. Back then, in LA, it was all about gangster music. And we were all about hip-hop, all about positive, happy music.”

And he shares a third toughest part of his life. “Of course, the loss of my brothers. My brother Joven and Arnel. Those were pretty dark times. That was painful. That was… you know, I wish they were here to see this. We miss them.” Apl was 30 when his older brother Arnel committed suicide, and was 35 when his younger brother Joven was shot dead. He wrote in The Apl Song: “I guess sometimes life’s stresses get you down on your knees; Oh brother, wish I could’ve helped you out.”

5 On choosing education as his main advocacy: “With an education, you can be anything.”

Apl revealed that he will be joining the Ironman event here in the Philippines this year, and has begun training for the race. “I’ve been doing a lot of 10ks here sa Pinas, I join, and they donate to my foundation, and we are able to build schools,” he shares. “That’s what they’re doing for Ironman. As a peace ambassador, I want to utilize that path to connect with people from Mindanao and give the proceeds to build schools over there.” Apl will do the 60-mile bike leg of the race, his trainer and colleague in his foundation Joe Santos will do the swim leg, and they will choose a kid from Mindanao to join them for the run leg of the race.

“Education helped me a lot. I knew I was being adopted. I was so worried. I asked my mom, ‘How am I gonna talk to people?’ I didn’t know how to speak English. She’s like, ‘Anak, don’t worry, read the dictionary!’ I was just learning, translating, and when I got to the US, she was right. It made sense later on in school. Even Will was like, ‘You have a deeper vocab!’ Things like that. That is why education is important. Opening up information to kids. I want to help provide that.”

6 Apl is very particular about his fashion choices, and laughs as he admits, “I’m kinda like… cheap.”

“I’m really bad with the names. Fergie’s always like, ‘Apl, you have to memorize all your stuff!’ But it’s just a lot of them,” he says.

He loves Maison Martin Margiela, G Star, Unconditional, Skingraft and Rick Owens, to name a few. “He is big on anything that has a collar,” his stylist Anna shares. “Now, I’m feeling a lot of Team Manila shirts,” Apl says of the local clothing brand. “I want to hook up with them and do stuff.”

For his trademark eyewear, he loves vintage pieces from Cazal and Alpina. “I like fun watches. I’m not so into bling. But someday I’ll get a Rolex, when I’m responsible. I’m very bad with jewelry! I always lose them,” he reveals. For shoes he likes Creative Recreation and (he actually removes his studded black shoe during the interview to check the label, saying, “What are my shoes?”) Giuseppe Zanotti.

The most sulit item in his closet: “This Margiela black leather jacket. It’s always ready.”

His style inspiration: “I kinda mix it up. If I like somebody I try to do it but a little different. Before, it’s weird because I was more like, ‘Girls got better clothing!’ If I could change that a little bit, I would turn that so that a guy could rock it. But now, guy fashion, they are trying to push the envelope. Prince is cool. But I can’t rock it like Prince.”

His shopping process: “My stylist Anna shops, brings it home, I do a fitting, then she brings it back when I don’t like it. I’m kinda like… I’m cheap,” he laughs. “Not that cheap! ‘I like this, how much is it? Is it cool enough for that price? Is it too expensive? Am I wasting money? What event am I gonna wear this to, is it worth it to spend that much?’ I evaluate things. It’s probably like my upbringing, I grew up poor. If it’s worth it, all right.”

7 On what it feels like to win a Grammy Award: “It is an amazing feeling. You almost feel numb. You can never get used to it.”

He stutters when asked to recall how it felt to win the first time. “It was, it was, it’s like… I had to pinch myself. Kinda like, ‘Damn!’ After we received the award, we were all backstage and we were like, ‘Dude!’ To us it was like, “Remember when we just used to be in a room, and we were so happy to have a tour bus? It was a broken-down bus but to us that was our biggest accomplishment! We got a tour bus! We’re opening up for our favorite crew!’ But having a Grammy. Wow.” He reveals he would rather perform all day than give an acceptance speech. “When you’re up there, it’s a moment of, like, every word’s got to mean so much. Every word you spit out, you always somehow blank out. You don’t want to forget anybody. You want to thank everybody but you don’t have much time… and there’s four of us that got to speak,” he laughs. “I could perform all day, but when it comes to that, you’re like, ‘Oh, smack.’ You’re in front of all your peers.”

On the most meaningful songs he has written: The Apl Song (“It tells a bit of my story, and I dedicated that song to my brothers”), Where’s the Love? (“Because it touches on social issues”), and Someday (“Me and Will, back in the day, we were just dreaming in our room, you know, someday.”)

On his songwriting process: “Certain songs just come to you. Party songs you kind of like paint a picture. Sometimes you want to tell a story so you put that together. Sometimes it’s just from a conversation. Sometimes you make a beat first, then you let the beat tell you what it makes you feel.”

On describing the Black Eyed Peas in one adjective: “Taboo, a showman. Fergie, strong. Will, a visionary.”

8 Apl.de.Ap in numbers:

12: Number of years before he was able to go home to the Philippines, after having moved to the US when he was 14.

200-plus: Estimated number of magnets and shot glasses in his collection. “A total of five continents! I get from every place I’ve been to.”

200: Number of jeepneys in his miniature jeepney collection.

500: Most number of shows the Black Eyed Peas did in one year, as in 365 days. “That was for ‘Elephunk.’ And three shows some days.”

6: Total number of Grammy Awards won, the first one being in 2005 for Let’s Get It Started. The Black Eyed Peas have garnered over a hundred nominations and won over 50 awards from bodies that include the American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

9 He actually shipped a whole jeepney to LA and plans to turn it into the first battery-powered jeepney.

It was shipped in parts, and he has asked the help of Pinoy friends in GM to put it together and fix it up. “I also met with Tesla Motors, to see if they could turn the jeepney into a Tesla, if they can do that technology. Now it’s just parked at a garage. I have to take it to the DMV to put it in US standards,” he reveals. Will he actually drive the jeepney there? “Yeah. And I’m turning it into a limo. Anyone can just rent it,” he smiles.

On what Pinoys should be proudest of: “Our hospitality. It’s the best. I’ve been to a lot of countries and we have the most hospitable people. And we work hard, yeah.”

10  Apl The Coach: Three things aspiring artists should have/do to have a chance of making it big.

1. Personality: “Definitely personality. When you’re up there, you gotta be able to connect with the crowd. Don’t be shy.”

2. Originality: “Don’t be scared to try new things. New songs. Try writing.”

3. Have a great team behind you: “Do a lot of shows. Make sure you utilize your media. Media is a big help now in showcasing your talent. Have a great media team. Have a great manager. Show yourself.”

As a coach on The Voice of The Philippines, Apl admits he wasn’t sure he wanted to take on the role. “When they first approached me I was kind of hesitant. Am I going to be able to see the contestants onstage, or how’s my Tagalog? I was so worried about things like that,” he admits. “But I discovered, it’s not about that, it’s about relating to people. Sharing my story and the things I’ve gone through and what they’ve gone through. When I realized that, I had the greatest time. It’s about the big picture. I pay attention to that picture instead of focusing on the little things.”

* * *

“Apl.de.Ap” is actually an acronym for Allan Pineda Lindo (his real name), from (in Spanish) Angeles, Pampanga, which tells of how proud he is to look back at where he came from. Apl goes home to the Philippines regularly not just to perform but to share whatever opportunities were given to him with others. His is a life that proves it is not how your story begins but how your story goes — and ends — that matters most. Just as he says in The Apl Song:

Everyone help each other whenever they can

We makin’ it happen, nothing to something

We be surviving back in the homeland

Been away half my life and it felt like a dream

To be next to my mom with her home-cooked meal

Man, I felt complete.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2013/07/21/992751/big-apl-talks-about-his-humble-beginnings 

10 Things You Should Know About Kiefer Ravena

Kiefer Ravena: The King Eagle soars

It’s tough to paint what can possibly be going on in Kiefer’s mind. ‘I just want to prove to everyone that we are still capable of winning,’ Kiefer Ravena says

Oh, to be 19, in your junior year of college, trying your best to pass all your subjects while making time for a social life, and figuring out where your place is in the world, is tough. But to be all that plus to be your university’s star basketball player, experiencing tens of thousands of supporters chanting your name, with everyone watching every move you make, is not for the weak.

Here are 10 things you should know about “The Phenom,” “Blue Mamba,” “King Eagle,” Kiefer Ravena.

1. Kiefer was only 13 years old when he first heard the monicker “The Phenom.” The first thing his coach told him was “humility.”

“I was 13 years old, playing with 15, 16-year-old American players in Las Vegas, and I would somewhat dominate the game, I would score a lot,” he said about his stint with the Philippine Youth team when he was in first year high school. “Gumawa ng video sa YouTube yung tito ko and he labeled it ‘Kiefer Ravena Pinoy Phenom.’ Then I proudly told coach Jamike (Jarin) about the video. I remember this exact moment, I was in the weights room and he asked me, ‘Alam mo ba ibig sabihin ng humility?’ (Do you know what humility means?) And that was the start of my era with coach Jamike.”

He adds, “I was very lucky that I was under him in high school. He was that strict a coach that he would make sure to push me harder. He would constantly remind me of things, pag sumosobra, pag kulang. He really made sure I was grounded despite everything I achieved in high school pa lang. He taught me lessons that I will bring with me throughout my life.”

The impact of his monicker actually hit Kiefer during his rookie year in college. “Naramdaman ko talaga yung  (I really felt like a) ‘phenom’ during the game versus La Salle. That’s when I first saw the shirt, ‘The Phenom Is Here’. Sa high school  there was nothing like that! It was a surreal moment for me when they gave me a shirt. I asked what it was, they said, ‘Pang-warmer mo.’ When I read what was written, wow, astig. It’s very overwhelming that a lot of people would consider buying the shirt, which was around P300, P350. It wasn’t cheap!”

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2. He first learned basketball at the Milo Best program. The minimum age was 6, he was only 4.

“I was the youngest that was allowed to join Milo Best,” Kiefer reveals. “My mom asked them, kung pwede bang i-salingkit lang ako. So I just did drills. Then eventually, the coaches were like, ‘Uy, pwede ‘to ah!’ They decided to enroll me as a normal student, a camper. (He actually attended Milo Best in Ateneo). It was there where I learned to play basketball. Basics, shooting, defense, dribbling. So now I’m with Milo as their endorser, it’s very nice. It’s very surreal that now I’m giving back, when sila ang tumulong sa akin dati.” (when they used to be the one helping me).

On whether he ever recalls sucking at basketball: “Ha ha! I just knew that I had a feel for the game.”

3. He first played for La Salle Greenhills, until his fifth grade when he was recruited by Ateneo to be the first scholar of basketball for grade school.

“Ateneo started talking to my parents about the possibility of me transferring to Ateneo. They said they would give me a lot of opportunities. We talked about it as a family, and for me, being that eager kid who just wanted to play basketball, I really wanted to try it out. I didn’t know that eventually it would be this big for me. I just wanted what was best for me, and my parents thought the same. So for grade six, I transferred,” he recalls. Kiefer shares that though his dad, basketball star Bong Ravena, went to UE and his mom, star volleyball player Mozzy Crisologo Ravena, went to UST, neither parent pressured him to follow in their footsteps and be a Warrior or Tiger.

Going into college, DLSU did try to get him back, and other schools tried, too. “Yes. They sought to interest me,” he says shyly. “I chose Ateneo because I owe probably, if not all, most of my achievements to them. It’s just right for me na piliin ko yung (that I chose the school that gave me the biggest opportunity.” When asked if he can imagine himself playing for La Salle, had he not made the choices he did: “Now, that I’m grown up hindi ko maisip. (I wouldn’t think of it).  But maybe the thought, what if I studied in La Salle, makakasabay ko sina ganito, ganyan ( I would play with). But di ko rin masasabi (I can’t really say for sure) who would end up in what team.”

“I’m so happy here in Ateneo, with my teammates. I feel most at home here.”

4. Kiefer Ravena in numbers:

250: number of sneakers in his collection

39: highest number of points scored in one game. “Third year high school, versus FEU, and we lost.”

11: current number of endorsements he has.

184,800: current number of followers he has on Twitter with his account @kieferravena, making him the most followed UAAP player on the site

15: his jersey number. “Because when I was in La Salle walang ibang natira. No connection to anything. I was born Oct. 27, 1993, nothing would add up to 15, we don’t live in #15. I just decided to stick to it.”

5. On growing up and being compared to his dad Bong: “Imagine sobrang bata ka pa lang, sobrang (I was so young, yet I was so) pressured to perform. But my dad is actually my biggest advantage.”

“When I was young I was really compared to him, and my dad was the first one to tell me, ‘Just be yourself, just play your game, don’t be pressured with who I am.’ Then eventually I diverted into my own image and style of playing,” he recalls. “My dad was my biggest advantage when I was growing up. Other players were bigger than me, could shoot better than me, were stronger than me. But my knowledge of the game with the help of my dad at a young age was very high. That was really my advantage.”

Now, Thirdy, his younger brother who is playing for the Ateneo Juniors Basketball Team in his senior year, is constantly being compared by the public to Kiefer. “Actually I am my brother’s number one critic. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but hindi ko siya pinupuri (I don’t praise him). It’s not that minamaliit ko siya ( don’t belittle him), it’s because I know what he can do. He is physically the most athletic of us boys in the family so he is perfect for basketball. We are here to guide him,” Kiefer explains. In his family, it’s all about mentoring and sportsmanship with his mom also guiding his younger sister Dani, who plays volleyball for the Miriam HS team. “Sometimes you can be pressured to do everything, score, rebound. But it’s a team sport and you have your other teammates to be there.”

6. On being a big fan himself: “I would tweet NBA players just for fun.” Just recently, his ultimate idol Kobe Bryant even followed him on Twitter.

“Every single time he was here in Manila, I was able to see him,” says the fanboy. They were able to have a proper “two-minute conversation” one time.

Kiefer: “I said, hey man,”

Me: “You said, ‘hey.. man?’”

Kiefer: “Yes,” he laughs in slight embarrassment. “Sobrang idol ko kasi (He’s my real idol). I just told him I really idolize him and he just told me to keep working hard, and that I will do great things. I really would watch his clips, study his skills, study his arsenal.”

One morning, Kiefer woke up to the pleasant surprise of being followed by Kobe on Twitter.

Me: “So you’ve sent him a direct message?” (A private messaging feature that can only be used if a person follows you on Twitter.)

Kiefer: “Yes, I did! I said thanks for following me and I hope you tweet me back. He didn’t reply. But, of course, it’s okay,” he laughs.

7. Kiefer’s take on the controversies of the basketball world:

1. On controversies of players cheating on their wives: “I don’t really follow chismis (rumors), I’m not into that. I idolize Kobe for what he is on the court, I don’t know if he’s the same beast outside the court.” Hypothetically asked what he would do when he joins the PBA and discovers that a teammate is cheating on his wife: “I’m the type of friend who won’t deprive you of what you like, but I would warn you. If he doesn’t stop it’s not my fault anymore, but I would try my best to tell him he is doing something wrong.”

2. On NBA player Jason Collins coming “out”: “I’m impressed with how the NBA handled it, they handled it with such class. If it were here it would have to start out small, it can’t be big right away. Jason Collins wasn’t the first one to come out, and all of them had overwhelming support. Eventually we will reach a point we will be that open.”

3. On issues of game fixing and college player salaries: “The game fixing and ‘hulog ng laro,’ I’m not a fan of it and I don’t believe in it. It ruins the game. I’m aware it goes around and it’s happening, but I am not a fan and I’m never going to be one. On salaries, here in the Philippines, basketball is such a way of life. You can’t blame college players for getting income from basketball at a young age. In fact, I admire kids who work hard to play basketball because they know how big it is, they know how it can help their families and themselves.”

4. On rumors of star players being “protected” by referees: “Protected? No, I really get beat up in games. Punched, everything, it’s part of the game. The referees are my best friends. They can really control the game.”

8. More trivia on Kiefer:

Most meaningful championship? “My fifth straight. I won three straight in high school, two in college. That was the five-peat last year. Kasi yun ang pinakamahirap.” ( That was the most difficult).

Most painful loss? “First year high school, the championship against Zobel.”

Most important lesson learned from coach Norman Black? “Give it your best at all times. He was known as Mr. 100 percent, even in practice, even when horsing around, he would be so competitive. He is my godfather in baptism. He was my dad’s first coach. Year 1992 for San Miguel, Coach Norman drafted my dad. After 10 years, I was under coach Norman.”

One thing your new coach Bo Perasol always tells you? “He would always tell me to accept my role. You can’t shy away from that. You’re a good player, and the only thing that will make you a great player is if you accept and play your role well. Ganito pala niya ako pinagkakatiwalaan.” (This is how much he trusts me.)

First thing you do after losing a game? “Eat a lot.”

Any favorites? “Sambokojin.”

Favorite thing to do after a win? “Go out with my family, celebrate. Eat. Wherever near the venue, whether Araneta or MOA.”

Sport you love watching? “Volleyball, the local league. My mom works as an analyst for ABS-CBN Volleyball coverage.”

Best subject in school? “Law 11, Obligations and Contracts. I’m not taking up law but I like learning it.

Worst subject? “Science, anything with science.”

Relationship status: “Currently nanliligaw (courting).”  She’s his schoolmate in Ateneo.

9. With his savings and income from endorsements, Kiefer had a beach house built in his hometown Iloilo.

“It’s the first big reward I gave myself. It’s not too far, it’s like going to Boracay. A three-day weekend would do,” he shares. “I was hands-on building it. I designed the room, how the porch was made, the interiors, where everything would be placed, the gate. It’s just somewhere to relax. It’s nice, it’s so serene.”

10. On taking his love for basketball a step further: “I will become a coach no matter what. I know that I am one.”

“Nung bata ako (when I was younger), I would watch VHS tapes of my dad in the room. The door would be slightly open and they would look at what I was doing. They would hear me talking by myself. ‘Dapat kasi pinasa mo dun, dapat dito ka, dapat ganito,’ (You should have passed the ball, you should have been here, this is what you should have done), as if instructing my dad. I would analyze the game. Natuwa sila hearing those things,” he revealed. He was around seven years old at that time.

On his training regimen: “First, diet. I eat everything. As long it’s in moderation, we burn everything. When it comes to practice, that’s the beauty of basketball, its a set of different skills so you figure out what you need to improve. My shooting is what I am trying to improve, seeing what other shots I can make. Watching your videos. You take note of the things you need to improve. Extra shots. Weights room. Just to keep everything in check.” He also occasionally swims, runs, (“I use other sports to be better at basketball”) and goes to the driving range (“It’s also a game of focus”).

So what does he do so differently from other players? “Perhaps, my knowledge of the game? My ‘Basketball IQ’, I’ve heard it a lot of times. Skill wise there are many better players than me. But the thing that makes basketball look so easy, that is my advantage. Kunyari ito, he had to do this and this and this, for me, you can just do this, and you get the same result.”

* * *

Yes, he feels the pressure. With five key teammates graduated, a 0-2 standing, and an ankle injury, it’s tough to paint what can possibly be going on in Kiefer’s mind. “I just want to prove to everyone that we are still capable of winning. A lot of people are already counting us out, especially our opponents. But I have to recover 100 percent and be ready for all the games that I will play in,” he says. Determination and passion, he obviously has. Having his feet planted firmly on the ground despite his overwhelming fame and success is what makes Kiefer a cut above the rest. After our interview I bumped into Fr. Nemy Que of Ateneo and mentioned how disarming Kiefer’s humility is. He answers, “I think from the very start he knew, he knew he had it, he knew he wanted it to be like this.”

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2013/07/07/962355/kiefer-ravena-king-eagle-soars