Jamming with the waves
By Arman Armero
SHE has an iron grip, a penchant for all masculine sports and an admirable
advocacy for abused women and children.
She also happens to be the countrys top female jet ski racer,
bar none, and proved it last Sept. 15 when she easily won the womens
side of the 2007 Petron-National Jet Ski Series in Subic, Zambales.
Julie Ann Mangio or simply Jam to friends and family, rides the ski
like she is born into it. Her dedication for the sport also known as
watercross and her competitive spirit even saw her competing in the
supposedly all-male 4-Stroke novice category to provide support to Team
Networx stablemate Sammy Parilla Jr., who was but two points adrift
of Team Zouaves Robbie David.
With Jam on his tail, Sammy pushed his ski to the limit, with Robbie
struggling to keep in step with the two Team Networx riders.
Sammy, the son of Bantay, Ilocos Sur Mayor Samuel Sr., went on to
capture the Driver of the Year title in the category, with Jam looking
very pleased, relaxed in the knowledge that once again, she has proven
that determination knows no gender.
What men can do, women can do, and maybe even better,
said the 19-year-old Advanced Batch student of Philippine School of
Interior Design in Makati. Thats always been my motto since
I started competing in every sport I indulge in.
Growing up with the boys
Jam, a true-blue Kapampangan, grew up with two brothers and a sister
she describes as the more feminine type. The youngest daughter
of Nestor Mangio and Marionette Panlilio Mangio, whose family owns the
Lakeshore Development Corp.
Growing up in a God-fearing, but active family, little Jam first ventured
into gymnastics and ballet in her kindergarten years, but with big brother
Mike always roughing her up, Jam developed a liking for
more physical, male-dominated activities.
Lagi kaming nagkukulitan ni kuya Mike. Minsan nga nagkakasakitan
na, pero hindi ako umaangal. Even when I was young, I already wanted
to prove something, Jam said.
During her high school days at the Poveda, Jam became the schools
team captain in volleyball. But soon enough, volleyball gave way to
boxing, tennis, basketball, karting, triathlon, softball, soccer and
recently wakeboarding.
In watercross, Jam and Mike are familiar fixtures in the water, although
when she first tried to ski, she wasnt as focused as she is now,
joining and winning in the last leg of the series in the last two years.
Ive always been strong since I was a kid and I would try
everything, kahit na anong sports. Two years ago, I rode the jet ski
just to test the waters, so to speak, but BJ Ang [a teammate in the
Networx squad] urged me to really concentrate on watercross. I guess
itutuluy-tuloy ko na, Jam added.
With that in mind, the charming Kapampangan is going to Thailand for
the Kings Cup in December to compete in the womens 1200cc
category against the best female riders in Asia.
Jams motivation and advocacy
Jam attributes her strength to many thingsfaith, family, a sports
drink called GU Gel, an exercise regimen of 10 push-ups a day and even
vegetables like lettuce and broccoli, and fruits like bananasplenty
of bananas.
Iyun talaga ang paborito ko, banana. Nagbi-build kasi ito ng
muscles at resistensya, Jam said of the potassium-rich fruit.
But aside from all these, Jams determination is fueled by her
desire to banner girl power and Pinay power.
Id like to show the world that Pinays can compete with
the best athletes in the world and at the same time, promote womens
power and womens rights, she said.
In Thailand, she hopes to rub elbows again with Japanese female ace
rider, Seiko Ozawa, who ruled the expert stand-up category against her
all-male rivals.
Grabe siya. Napanood ko siya sa Thailand last year. Talagang
lumapit kami ni Abby [Reyes, another Pinay rider] para magpa-autograph.
Idol ko talaga siya.
Jam and Mother Teresa
A self-confessed feminist and a womens and childrens rights
advocate, its small wonder that Jam idolizes the saintly Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, India.
In fact, Jam is an active member of the U Foundation, a Filipino initiative
which started early this year which reaches out to the squatters in
Payatas and other poverty-striken communities.
I have a soft spot for kids. Pag nakikita ko sila na walang
makain, awang-awa ako kasi di naman nila ginusto yon and I really
wanted to do something to share what I have, said Jam, who often
times ends up distributing her school allowance to the Payatas kids.
Her advocacy, strange as it seems, gives her the strength and motivation
to be the best that she can be in her chosen sport, or maybe later in
life in her future possession. She even mentioned boxing icon Manny
Pacquiao as somebody who draws his strength from his patriotism and
nationalism.
Look at Pacquiao. Maybe his strength comes from that, his love
of country. Sa akin din, before the race, I think of all the women na
inaapi and poor and underprivileged and I draw strength from those thoughts,
she continued.
This charmer plans to help in the familys businesses, which
also include Graceland Hotel, but as sure as the sun shines at the break
of dawn, Jams heart will always cry out for abused and underprivileged
women and children, her deadly secret weapon why shes so good
in everything she does.
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