Sunday, June 08, 2008 PJ: Ace heartthrob By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
I BUMPED into a female student of the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) last week and asked if she knows an arnis player by the name of Paulo Juachon Montebon dela Riarte. She was thrilled, saying: "Campus heartthrob namin siya (He's our campus heartthrob)." By the looks of the girl, I can tell she has a big crush on Paulo. She has a dreamy smile all over her face.
I also approached a group of female teens and showed PJ's picture. I wasn't surprised by their reaction at all. One girl said, "Does he (PJ) have a Friendster address?" Another one exclaimed, "He's so handsome."
"Can we play arnis too, if he could teach us?" one teener asked in excitement.
Whew! PJ is indeed a head-turner. He has this innocent boyish look that would certainly draw anyone to him. He could even be mistaken as mestizo because of his very fair color.
My colleague at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA), Moses P. Billacura, thought PJ could be a showbiz personality. But the 15-year-old incoming senior student at City High just smiled at the comment.
PJ, who now stands at five-feet-four, was born to parents Joseph and Natividad Dela Riarte. His siblings are Jonah and Justine. The family resides at the Airport Drive in Sasa.
His father introduced him to martial arts at age nine.
"He enrolled me in taekwondo. Since then it became my hobby. I got inspired by my father's encouragement. Seeing the practices was an also excitement for me," he told Sun.Star Davao.
He shifted to arnis at age 13 while he was a freshman.
He recalled, "I joined the Arnis Club of our school and then got into the Kapatirang Doble Olisi. I joined the two organizations to enhance my skills in arnis and help me achieve my goals."
It was only in 2006, however, that PJ at last competed in an arnis tournament. He emerged champion in the Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet then advanced to the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte where he clinched two gold medals.
"I had mixed emotions. I was excited winning the golds but at the same time nervous," he said.
In 2006, he grabbed a bronze medal in the Palarong Pambansa in Naga City. He collected three golds and two bronzes in the 2007 Davraa Meet held in Pantukan, Compostela Valley but settled for fifth place in the arnis anyo event of the Palaro in Koronadal City.
But he came back strong with a one gold finish in the Carambunal sa Davao, a silver in the Philippine Olympic Festival Mindanao Qualifying Games in Cagayan de Oro City, and another silver in the POF National Championships in Metro Manila on the same year.
He also won four golds in the 2008 Palaro in Mati City, Davao Oriental.
He captured a gold medal and silver in the just-concluded POF Mindanao Qualifying Games held in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. He is set to compete in the nationals set sometime in October.
"I'll train hard and do my best to win a medal in the national finals although I expect a stiff contest with the presence of RP national team players," he said while guesting in one edition of the DSA Forum last month.
PJ, meanwhile, admits good time management is helping him carry out his responsibilities as an athlete and student.
"Studying keeps me busy when I'm not in training. During schooldays, I practice only after classes. During school break though, I usually wake up at 5 a.m. then practice at 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and go home to help in the household chores," he shared.
He said the discipline he's getting from his training is also helping him make good grades in school.
He added, "My family inspires me to be where I am now. They are very supportive in my games and in my training. I really want my parents to be proud of me."
PJ, however, doesn't only want his family to be proud of him. He also desires to make every Dabawenyo proud.
"My greatest dream is to play in the Olympics because I want Dabawenyos to be proud of me," he said.
Well, PJ hasn't been to the Olympics yet but he sure is every Dabawenyo's pride as he had been reaping honors for the city.
