Passion & confidence
MANILA, Philippines - Athletes Kimberly Myka Andrea Li and Janeth Rose Sison breathe determination, discipline and dedication. Their silent confidence brings out the best in themselves and the people around them. And most importantly, they carry a passionate drive to excel in their craft.
Twenty-two-year-old triathlete and bodybuilder Kimberly Li dreamed of being a fitness coach when she was a child. With this dream, she allowed herself to be exposed to different types of sports — basketball, volleyball, swimming, running, etc. — which eventually gave her a firm foundation for sports. “Being active in sports has molded me to be determined, disciplined and competitive. Whatever challenge there is to tackle, I am not afraid to conquer,” says Kimberly.
When she decided to take sports more seriously, Kimberly started going to the gym to develop her body strength and improve her endurance. She religiously lifted weights and joined group cycling classes just to achieve a better physique and test her limits. But in 2012, an opportunity to join the Slimmers World Great Bodies competition opened for her. Physically and mentally ready, Kimberly did not let this opportunity pass and joined. She eventually won second place.
“I only wanted to join for the experience but I fell in love with my training. It inspired me to research on bodybuilding — learning the proper form of lifting weights and understanding the proper nutrition and supplementation. After a few weeks, I decided to join another physique contest organized by Muscle Manila 2012,” shares Kimberly, who, again, won second place in the competition’s Figure category and first place for its Model Women Open Division. Because of this competition, she also became the international athlete of Optimum Nutrition, a sports and nutrition company.
As her physical training continued after the bodybuilding competitions, Kimberly actively joined duathlon and triathlon races, where she also excelled. She even represented Ever Bilena’s Blackwater team in a charity race recently, where she received a bronze medal. She says one of her greatest achievements is placing second at the Olympic-distance Century Tuna 5i50 event Age Category 20 to 24 in 2014.
Kimberly, an Applied Corporate Management graduate of the De La Salle University, admits that she does not get tired of her activities despite her busy schedule. Her normal day starts with training and going straight to Wai Ying Dimsum, a restaurant she manages on Taft Avenue in Manila.
Dedicated to fitness and wellness, goal-oriented Kimberly says she continues to push herself to be at her best not because she is bound by it but because she does it for passion. “I believe I am self-motivated. I set myself to be a motivation for others. When they are motivated, I am inspired to do better. It’s a cycle,” Kimberly states.
Just like Kimberly, Janeth Sison of the National University Lady Bulldogs was exposed to sports at an early age. Her curiosity started when she saw her father play basketball in local competitions in her hometown of Santa Rosa, Laguna. Upon seeing her interest in the game, Janeth’s father started teaching her the basics of basketball when she was five. She grew up loving the sport but only played it as a hobby.
“I didn’t think of seriously getting into basketball then. I was just a regular high school student. But when my mom died, I thought of ways on how I could help my family and support myself to get a college education,” shares Janeth, who saw basketball as a sport that could give her the opportunity in entering a university and pursue her dream of being an educator.
With determination plus the skills she learned from her father, Janeth pushed herself to train hard so she could get into the basketball varsity team of her high school. During her senior year in high school, she had the opportunity to play at the biggest sporting event in the country, the Palarong Pambansa. At the Palarong Pambansa, it is no secret that coaches from universities and colleges scout for young athletes who can be potential members of their own varsity teams. And Janeth, a point guard, was recruited to play for the National University Lady Bulldogs.
“NU offered me a full academic scholarship. And the offer included meals, allowance and dormitory. I immediately grabbed the opportunity because I would be able to get a college education. I am very thankful for NU’s support because with the scholarship, I was able to help my dad and my family as well,” relates Janeth, who also treasures the travel opportunities — including to Malaysia, Taiwan, China and Thailand — that allowed her to experience different cultures together with her teammates. She also shares that one of her greatest achievements is being part of the Lady Bulldogs, who became champions in last year’s UAAP season 77 women’s basketball.
Janeth, a fourth year student taking up Bachelor of Physical Education-Sports and Wellness Management, stresses the importance of discipline. She applies the discipline she gets from training to her everyday life. She also surrounds herself with positivity to get through the demands of being a student-athlete.
“I’m happy where I am and what I have right now. Even though there are many struggles in life, with God’s help and the support of my family and friends, I know I can get through whatever challenge I will encounter in life,” says Janeth.
It is not just their medals and trophies that allow Kimberly and Janeth to be great, confident athletes. It is their passion to always be at their 100-percent best.
Photography by CLAUDINE CERVANTES CALLANTA
• Styling by EDRELYN SANTOS
