As published in The Pilipino Express News Magazine, December 1 to 15, 2008 issue, Winnipeg, Canada
By: MARCK SALAMATIN
Since the phenomenal rise of boxer Manny Pacquiao to global stardom his life has been put under a microscope. He has been praised by supporters and criticized by detractors. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that many people view what has been documented about Manny Pacquiao as a microcosm of the ideal Filipino spirit – his dedication to hard work in perfecting his craft, his sense of family and community, and his sense of humility and compassion.
In a recent interview with Jeremy Schaap of ESPN’s E60, Pacquiao stated, “Before (the 2003 fight with Marco Antonio Barrera), I only trained for one month… it’s not enough. My name is getting bigger in the United States... I have to prove to show them that I’m the best fighter.” In fact, long-time trainer Freddie Roach who has guided many world champions (such as Mike Tyson, James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, and others) considers Pacquiao’s work ethic as the best he has worked with.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has always remained close to his roots, his sense of family and community. In a profile on HBO’s 24/7 series leading up to his fight with Dela Hoya this month, there was a touching scene where he enjoys a proud moment with his wife, Jinky. Together they were listening to heartbeat of their unborn child.
He still lives in Mindanao where there is a high risk of rebel insurgents, although, it has been revealed that he maintains a security force of thirty men and more than a hundred M16’s at his residence.
Pacquiao’s charitable works are evident all over the country. He has donated money to hospitals, educational programs and has helped to raise funds for victims of natural disasters. He has even personally distributed food and other items to the poor. In 2005, Pacquiao apparently gave away 35 truckloads of rice with canned goods, eggs and noodles in the Philippines.
While training for his upcoming fight against Oscar Dela Hoya in the United States, Pacquiao gave away 500 turkeys in historic Filipino Town in Los Angeles.
According to Fightnews, he said, “I have a lot to be thankful for and I can’t think of a better way to express my appreciation to my American-based fans who have embraced me, than by sharing my good fortune with them.”
Pacquiao’s success does not seem to have changed the humble man who at one time was selling doughnuts in the streets of General Santos City. In many of his fights, he has sounded more like an diplomat than a warrior; praising his defeated opponents more often than not. This past June, millions witnessed how Pacquiao immediately made an effort to encourage his fallen rival, David Diaz, off the mat.
On the other hand, there have been some criticisms of Pacquiao. Some bloggers have demanded that he should set up a more formal charitable foundation to have a better systemic process of “sharing his blessings.”
Many did not welcome his initial foray into politics, either. Even former boxing rival, now good friend, Eric Morales was quoted in an article by Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin saying, “You can provide more help to the people when you are on the outside.”
In a 2006 online commentary, Manny Pacquiao is a boxing icon – Should he be more? Charrisse Domingo wrote, “Philippine politics has corrupted the best-intentioned people and I would hate for Manny’s fighting spirit to be claimed in the name of more McDonalds, Starbucks and golf courses in the Philippines. So as a nation holds its breath waiting for Manny to answer its political invitation, I hold mine too, hoping to God he says no.”
Despite the criticisms hurled at Manny Pacquiao, his life provides an excellent glimpse into the ideal Filipino spirit. While I personally find it challenging to consider him a national hero, he is a great Filipino – an ambassador of our people to others around the world. Who are we to judge the amount that he’d like to donate towards his charitable works? Would we do the same if we were in his position? Why should we criticize an individual who seems to have the best intention of his countrymen in mind?
Perhaps, the biggest lesson that we can learn from Pacquiao’s journey is just to be ourselves. Let’s continue to work hard and be resilient. Let’s always remember and cherish our roots, which are our family, our countrymen, and former home, the Philippines. As much as the situation allows it, humility and compassion in dealing with others goes a long way.
As published in the August 16 to 31, 2009 issue of the Pilipino Express News Magazine, Winnipeg, Canada
by: MARCK SALAMATIN
Finally, after sixteen blessed years of living in Winnipeg, I decided to cross the great Pacific Ocean last February to return to the home I “left behind.”
However, I can say that I simply left the Philippines physically; since my passion for the country and our people has always remained wherever I have gone. My stay, just a mere ten days, many would consider as too brief for the length of time I have been away. From my personal point of view, such is the furthest from the truth. I don’t think additional weeks or months would have given me the perspective that I now have following my return. For this, I am truly grateful.
My goodness, what a beautiful country and people we have! During our trip, we were treated to some of the best places in the Southern Tagalog region. Los Baños, Laguna, our hometown, boasts some of the best hot spring resorts in the country. There’s also the magnificence of Mount Maria Makiling. Our relatives also took us on road trips to tour many spots in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Cavite (my father’s home province).
We also went to the “mega malls” in Metro Manila – the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City where many of the artistas apparently shop and the famous Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The place is huge! I looked it up on the web: Mall of Asia’s maximum capacity is 4.2 million!
Another highlight was the exhilarating experience of “flying” via the Tagaytay Ridge Zipline (overlooking the Taal Volcano), going from one cliff over to the other at the speed of 60 kilometres per hour, 300 feet off the ground!
Beyond the sights and sounds, I was incredibly proud of how our countrymen and women were working hard in each of their roles contributing towards the independent functioning of the nation. Some may argue how truly “independent” the Philippines is given the nation’s dependence on foreign trade and other social and economic forces, but this is beside my point. The Philippines, for better or worse, is a self-governing nation. As such, there should be a sense of pride after all we have gone through in our history.
There were some things that I will truly never forget because they touched me at a personal level. Despite of the vibrancy that places and people of the nation exude, I must write about the stark realities that our friends and families living there are still experiencing on a daily basis. It is not my intent to tarnish the beauty of the country but to remind us that there are still those left behind who may not even have the luxury to realize they are dwelling in a great country because they cannot afford to look beyond their next meal. It broke my heart to see a family of four – a mother and three young children – with their legs bent, sitting on the sidewalk at ten o’clock at night, just half a kilometre from the luxurious Trinoma Shopping Centre. Were they hungry? Did they sell enough cigarettes or candies to at least go to bed without their stomachs grumbling? What could the mother be possibly telling her children before they settle for that night? That tomorrow would be better day? Did she tell her children never to lose hope?
In Los Baños, Laguna, I met a beautiful, young girl, no more than twelve years old. She asked me, “Kuya, bili na po kayo ng sampaguita, sampung piso lang.” (“Would you please buy sampaguita flowers, they’re only 10 pesos.”) Beyond her tender stature, her eyes expressed a fierce determination to take the responsibility of an income earner in their family. Did she still play with her dolls at home? After all, she’s just a child.
You and I know that life is unfair. Given the right opportunity, I believe those who are willing to make the sacrifices, can maximize their potentials. Sometimes, the unlikeliest of the unlikely make it because something or someone along the way has paved the path for them to make it. As a matter of fact, you may know some of them. They may be in your family or you may be one of them. We live in Canada, one of the best countries in the world. We have made it. There are those barely making it. Many are still left behind.
As published in The Pilipino Express News Magazine, January 1 to 15, 2010 issue, Winnipeg, Canada
BY: MARCK SALAMATIN
WINNIPEG – The 22nd Awit Awards held on December 7th had a taste of some of Winnipeg’s Filipino-Canadian talents when Chris De Guzman, a.k.a. Zacariah, won Awit’s People’s Choice Favourite Male Recording Artist and People’s Choice Best New Male Recording Artist.
The Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) established the annual Awit Awards in the late 1970s to honour their peers who excel in their respective fields – Filipino music talents, performing artists and producers. It is the Philippine counterpart of the Canadian Juno awards and the American Grammy Awards.
Zacariah was born and raised in Winnipeg and is a graduate of the University of Manitoba. He is now making waves in the Philippine music entertainment industry.
It was only last year when we invited Chris “Zacariah” De Guzman as a featured artist on our monthly radio program, PSN Community Connect. My co-hosts, Ayen Dandan-Zamora, Michele Majul, Maui Zamora and I were thrilled that we were getting to know for the very first time a promising Filipino-Canadian musician with roots firmly planted in our beloved city of Winnipeg.
Even before he set foot in the studios of CKJS 810 AM for the live on-air interview, his loyal friends and family already had our phone lines lighting up – “What time was Chris’ interview going to start?” “Was he already in the studio?” “Was it possible that we play one of his songs?” Our lines got tied up several times but the calls kept coming. The excitement kept building. We knew we wouldn’t be able to field all the calls and it was best if we let Chris take control of the microphone to satisfy the thirst of his supporters – and he sure did!
Fast forward to 2009 and Chris De Guzman has evolved into “Zacariah” one of the most exciting musical acts today on the Philippine music scene. After winning the People’s Choice Favourite Male Recording Artist and People’s Choice Best New Male Recording Artist at the 22nd Awit Awards on December 7, he is certainly poised for a breakout year in 2010. His singles are playing all around the globe on radio and TV stations. For the past few weeks, you may have also noticed our own local and national Canadian media have extensively covered his achievements. He has a good chance to become a Filipino powerhouse in the international music scene with the likes of Allen Pineda (apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas), Arnel Pineda (lead singer of Journey), Lea Salonga, Charice Pempengco and Billy Crawford, among others.
Last October, I had an opportunity to sit down with Zacariah for coffee in the upper levels of the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. I didn’t think I’d be able to touch base with him especially with his busy schedule. At the same time, the logistics were challenging as I was in a resort town in Laguna about three hours south of Metro Manila. I was blown away that Zacariah made the coffee meeting happen. On the one day my fiancée Kate and I were in Quezon City, he sent me a text message that he’d like to join us immediately after his vocal lessons with Ryan Cayabyab.
A very honest and grateful Zacariah, talked about how much life has changed for the better since pursuing his dream of being an entertainer. He sorely missed Winnipeg, especially family and friends and everything that made life on this side of the world so special for him. He also did not hold back on a few things that could be better in show business. He understood, like a veteran performer, what he needed to do to be successful on his own terms, which was to put in “lots and lots of hard work.” I came away from the meeting very impressed by Zacariah’s down-to-earth personality more than anything else. We almost forgot that he was on the verge of stardom!
We talked with Zacariah again via e-mail e-mail after his recent Awit Award wins. Here is that interview.
For those who may not know you yet, how did you get started in your singing career?
I’ve been singing ever since I can remember, actually. Music has always been in my household and within our family. My parents [Gil and Marisa De Guzman] are both singers and they met through singing. I remember as a child, I always loved to sing and dreamed of becoming a famous singer. It was not until I tried out and did well in local and national singing contests like Canadian Idol that I took singing seriously and became passionate about it.
What are some of the biggest changes in your life since making the move to Manila?
Some of the biggest changes in my life since making the move to Manila are the traffic and huge crowds of people everywhere. Also, I had to adjust to the heat all year round, which is quite nice most of the time! I also had to adjust to the different dialects people speak, since I’m only fluent in Tagalog.
What is your favourite food?
Oh man! I love food! I eat almost anything! I have a sweet tooth so I love cakes and ice cream! I’m undefeatable at buffets!
What is your zodiac sign?
I’m a Libra. Libras tend to be hard working, perfectionists, and overachievers. I’m also a nice person (sometimes too nice), which is also characteristic of the Libra zodiac sign.
Have you ever been in love?
Yes, I have been in love a few times in my life. Love is a great thing and words cannot describe how good it feels to be in love. Love can make you do some crazy things and can take over your life if you’re not careful. I decided to put my love life on the backburner to focus all my attention on my showbiz career. It’s hard to balance both.
What books are you reading now?
To tell you the truth, I do not like to read books, unless I really have to for school or something. I enjoy reading magazines and articles on the Internet. A book I recently purchased is about motivation, success, and happiness.
What motivates you to work hard every day in your career?
No matter how talented you are, there’s always room for improvement. I strive to be the best I can be despite being under various conditions I’m exposed to. There will always be someone better than you at something, but you’ve got to make the most of what you got. “Do your best and God will do the rest,” and “Good enough is not good enough.” These quotes motivate me to succeed and shoot for the stars. Taking a break from Optometry school to pursue my passion of singing constantly reminds me to work hard everyday. I risked leaving a medical career that would be secure for a lifetime for a career that usually doesn’t last forever.
You’ve almost been everywhere in the world, where does Winnipeg lie in your heart?
Winnipeg will always be home for me and will have a special place in my heart. There’s no place like home, no matter how cold Winnipeg can get. Most of my family and friends are in Winnipeg and I was born and raised in Winnipeg so I keep running back to Winnipeg. I’ve been all over the world, and I can honestly say that Winnipeg is such a close-knit community. I would rather live in a smaller major city like Winnipeg than a huge major city like Toronto. Everyone seems to know everyone in Winnipeg, which is great and keeps me coming back!
What is most important in life?
What’s most important in life is to be happy. Whatever you choose to do with your life, as long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, nothing else really matters. I chose to follow my dream and passion for singing and I do not regret one bit taking the chance, since you never know unless you try. I’ve never been so happy and fulfilled in my life. I accomplished dreams and goals I never imagined I could. Having a great support network and strong faith are very important to me in my life. Without the backbone of support from my family and friends and my faith in God, I don’t know where I’d be right now. You must also believe in yourself at the same time, since if you don’t believe in yourself, then chances are nobody else will. You must live life to your fullest potential to make the most of the talents and gifts God has provided each and every one of us with. Life is too short; so don’t want to live life with regrets and asking, “What if?”
Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, and 20 years from now?
In five years from now, I see myself with a music career in Europe, Canada, and the Philippines, and starting to break through to the U.S. Record Market. I probably will have composed songs of my own by this point and released more albums in the Philippines and abroad. In 10 years from now, I see myself being finished optometry school and practicing optometry, settled down and with children. I also probably would still be doing music part-time, on the side.
In 20 years from now, I see myself thinking about retirement, travelling the world, and enjoying life.
There is definitely something extraordinary about Zacariah. Once a science student at the University of Manitoba who worked at the Canada Revenue Agency, he was one of us – and he still is. He will continue to represent us wherever he will go.
For more about Chris “Zacariah” De Guzman, please visit: www.zacariah.net
