by John Paul Marquez

Athletes from different colleges all gathered to showcase their talent, to compete in their different categories and to be the toughest of all in Bulacan State University Intramurals 2012. 

To get hold of a gold medal is what all athletes desire. Some of them are lucky to win medals, some are very lucky who win not just one medal, but more than that.

That's just like the good fortune of Rica Roselle Reyes of BPE (Bachelor in Physical Education), when she won five gold medals in her five sports category (4x400 meter relay, classical relay, long jump, 1500 meter run and 400 meter run).

But some players weren't luck enough. The 19-year-old Fine Arts student of the same university, Ferdinand Rae Ruiz, joined three sports events in the 2012 BulSU Intramurals (swimming, long jump and triple jump) but in those entire events, he didn’t get even a single medal, as he was always on the fourth rank.

“Nanghihinayang din syempre, dapat pala nag-training ako nang maigi,” Ruiz stated.

“Pero nakatulong kasi na-challenge ako at masarap ang feeling ko 'pag ganoon. Pag-iigihan ko na lang ang training, he added.

He also said that he’s been looking forward to owning a medal since he joined the Intramurals last 2011, but those things are still not in the line for him now.

Ruiz who came from San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan started his passion in sports since he was Grade One. He began his career in sports by playing basketball. He said that he played basketball because of his idol Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

In their family, he said that he is the only one that has been devoted in playing sports.

"Sa angkan namin ako lang (interested in sports),” he said.

In his high school years in Balagtas National Agricultural High School, he continued his career and joined sports competitions like 200 meter dash, 100 meter, Long Jump and Shut Put. He did not get any medal yet during that time.

Finally in his college life at Bulacan State University, he became a varsity player in swimming in his 2nd year, 2nd semester. He took up swimming as his PE subject and then eventually he realized that he can compete in swimming by practicing harder. That is what he did but again he didn’t get a good position in that event.

Ruiz disclosed where he gets inspiration to pursue his sports career.

“Dahil sa mga idol ko na sina Manny Pacquiao, LeBron (James), Usain Bolt mga gano'n, tapos syempre pamilya ko. Sila 'yong mga inspirasyon ko,” he shared.

“At dahil din sa mga babae (with laugh),” said Ruiz jokingly.

In this upcoming State Colleges Universities Athletics Associaton (SCUAA), Ruiz will attempt his luck once again in swimming.

“May three months pa ako para makapag-training, tsaka hindi pa naman sure kung kasama ako sa SCUAA,” he stated.

Despite of his losing streak, Ruiz does not intend to give up. Instead he makes every loss as an inspiration to get his rhythm and to finally get the three-lettered word he've been wanting to achieve --- WIN.




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