Eram and Acaylar share their story during Parent's Forum

WINNERS never give up.

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star John Paul Erram and reigning Miss Cagayan de Oro Katrina Acaylar were born of these words to live by when they shared their life inspiring stories to more than 50 parents during the Fourth A Team Parent’s Forum at the AVR 6 in Xavier University’s main campus.

For the 29-year-old Erram, he was in tears when he recalls his struggles and paused every teary moment of his life.

All he ever wanted was his family to be whole.

The 6-foot-8 legitimate center for the Blackwater Elite grew up with a broken family and he needed to survive and overcome whatever comes his way.

Erram, now a family man, admitted that he could never fix the past, but it became his inspiring story that turned him to what he is now.

He grew up in Manila with his father, who was a soldier, and he was 12 years old when he moved to Dayawan in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental where his father was forced to take him along with his siblings due to his new assignment back then.

He had 10 siblings and he never saw his biological mother when he was two years old.

“I have not seen my mom since I was two years old and I had step siblings,” said Erram.

He needed to break from this, until basketball showed him the way to step up on his own and led him to meet his so-called “angel” Arvin Martinez, who was coaching for Pilgrim Christian College High School before becoming coach then college sports coordinator of Xavier University (XU).

Erram finished high school at Pilgrim where he was offered a scholarship with a free dorm inside the school.

When Martinez was absorbed at XU, Erram was then recruited for the Crusaders but for only a year.

His name was rising when XU’s sister university recruited him to suit up for the Ateneo de Manila nila Blue Eagles.

In his stay, he won three UAAP titles with Ateneo that led him to be the 15th over-all draft for the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in 2013 before finally settling for Blackwater in 2015 up to present.

But on his way to success, he recalled his hardships from eating only with rice for his meal and the many attempts of quitting basketball when he was already near to stardom.

He just cried it over and never quitted.

Acaylar, on the other hand, was so lucky that she has a very supportive parents.

The 22-year-old beauty queen was unlucky in many pageants that she participated until her own “angels” suddenly appeared.

Acaylar developed her poise and confidence after series of modeling gigs at the Cagayan de Oro Talent Center of “Daddy” Gabby Bacarro at the fourth floor of Gaisano Mall.

With grace and confidence, she finally nailed success by winning the 2017 Miss Cagayan de Oro crown and she will be turning it over for this year’s winner.

Seeing how lucky children to be having supportive parents, Erram has this to say for the parents: “Cherish every moment with them and make wise decisions for your children.”