Bowling champ CJ Suarez once tripped down the bowling lane
June 14, 2004 | 12:00am
CJ Suarez won one of the most prestigious bowling tournaments in the world. This 25-year-old bachelor had to beat a thousand other local bowlers in order to represent our country in Honduras. There, he won against 85 competitors from all over the world. Although this tournament offered no cash prize, CJ has already earned more than a million pesos in other competitions.
Together with 10 other bowlers, CJ invested some of his winnings to open the G spa in October, 2002. Now that they have more than 50 employees, the G spa continues to offer massage, facials, grooming, foot spa and body treatment in Quezon City near the ABS-CBN and GMA studios.
CJ Suarez got his masters in Information Technology from the University of Asia & the Pacific. As a bowling and physical fitness instructor, he works with and guides handicapped children.
What is your greatest fear?
For the Filipino people to forget that at one time CJ Suarez was able to bring the World Cup to our country.
On what occasion do you lie?
To please other people or to make them laugh.
Which living person do you admire most?
Corazon Aquino, ever since. There was something about her when she assumed the presidency. She inspired other women to become stronger in character.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
The love I have for my family. Even with several relationships that I’ve had, it is the love I feel for my mom, dad and my two younger siblings. If I’m not with my friends, I’m usually dining with my family or in Tagaytay with them.
What is your passion?
After winning the World Cup, it is to be able to inspire and be a role model for the youth and all the other athletes who are training to be world champions. For me to share my experience and for them to learn from me.
What film influenced your life?
Kevin Costner’s For Love of the Game reminds me very much of my own experience. Whenever I play bowling, win or lose, it is the passion I have for the game. I also get rewarded by teaching special children.
What book influenced your life?
Heroic Leadership by Chris Loney. It shows a parallelism between how St. Ignatius of Loyola created the Society of Jesus and how people can apply the same principles in setting up their business and in running their own lives.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My tendency to be impatient, which I am learning to improve particularly when I give instructions to the special children. I tend to get frustrated when I give instructions.
What is the trait you most like in yourself?
My desire to excel. In everything I do, a presentation or just talking with friends, I always want to bring out the best in myself.
How do you start your day?
By 5 a.m. I prepare to go to the Fitness First gym. I get there by 6 in the morning. The branch I go to depends upon where my 9 a.m. appointment is.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel and seeing places. Honduras was memorable. I love London, Portugal… Whenever I go to tournaments I make sure to see the places. From June 30 to July 14, I will be in Thailand for the Asian championships.
What is the first thing you look for when you meet a woman?
My weakness is for kind-hearted and soft-spoken mestizas.
Which historical character would you like to have been?
Jose Rizal. Given the things I learned about him, the fact that he died for our country, the measure of heroism exemplified by him. There are very few people now who possess that frame of mind. Every time I compete I feel that I am fighting for the good of our country.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Winning the World Cup and the Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year Award 2003. I competed for the eliminations against more than a thousand athletes in the local tournament, and you can imagine how many bowlers competed in America. I will have to win the local eliminations again in order to represent the country in Singapore this December. If ever I can win this year again, I will make the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to win back-to-back world bowling cups.
Which living person do you most identify with?
Paeng Nepomuceno. I got the chance to share his experiences when we were playing together in the national team. He was also living a healthy life and was dedicated to winning.
Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?
"The Filipino is worth dying for."
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Rejection. I have experienced this several times and it is the one thing that really makes me feel lonely.
What is your favorite occupation?
Teaching special children. Some of them have cerebral palsy, some are retarded, with Down Syndrome. I developed this program, knowing that they would be discriminated against in any normal sports activity. To see their enthusiasm at learning the sport is my reward.
Name an embarrassing moment at work.
In the bowling competition abroad, I stumbled on the lane. No one laughed.
What do you feel guilty about?
I am a vegetarian now, but before I felt guilty about my bad eating habits.
In case of a fire, what would you bring out?
My rosary.
E-mail babycamp2@yahoo.co.uk.
Together with 10 other bowlers, CJ invested some of his winnings to open the G spa in October, 2002. Now that they have more than 50 employees, the G spa continues to offer massage, facials, grooming, foot spa and body treatment in Quezon City near the ABS-CBN and GMA studios.
CJ Suarez got his masters in Information Technology from the University of Asia & the Pacific. As a bowling and physical fitness instructor, he works with and guides handicapped children.
What is your greatest fear?
For the Filipino people to forget that at one time CJ Suarez was able to bring the World Cup to our country.
On what occasion do you lie?
To please other people or to make them laugh.
Which living person do you admire most?
Corazon Aquino, ever since. There was something about her when she assumed the presidency. She inspired other women to become stronger in character.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
The love I have for my family. Even with several relationships that I’ve had, it is the love I feel for my mom, dad and my two younger siblings. If I’m not with my friends, I’m usually dining with my family or in Tagaytay with them.
What is your passion?
After winning the World Cup, it is to be able to inspire and be a role model for the youth and all the other athletes who are training to be world champions. For me to share my experience and for them to learn from me.
What film influenced your life?
Kevin Costner’s For Love of the Game reminds me very much of my own experience. Whenever I play bowling, win or lose, it is the passion I have for the game. I also get rewarded by teaching special children.
What book influenced your life?
Heroic Leadership by Chris Loney. It shows a parallelism between how St. Ignatius of Loyola created the Society of Jesus and how people can apply the same principles in setting up their business and in running their own lives.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My tendency to be impatient, which I am learning to improve particularly when I give instructions to the special children. I tend to get frustrated when I give instructions.
What is the trait you most like in yourself?
My desire to excel. In everything I do, a presentation or just talking with friends, I always want to bring out the best in myself.
How do you start your day?
By 5 a.m. I prepare to go to the Fitness First gym. I get there by 6 in the morning. The branch I go to depends upon where my 9 a.m. appointment is.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel and seeing places. Honduras was memorable. I love London, Portugal… Whenever I go to tournaments I make sure to see the places. From June 30 to July 14, I will be in Thailand for the Asian championships.
What is the first thing you look for when you meet a woman?
My weakness is for kind-hearted and soft-spoken mestizas.
Which historical character would you like to have been?
Jose Rizal. Given the things I learned about him, the fact that he died for our country, the measure of heroism exemplified by him. There are very few people now who possess that frame of mind. Every time I compete I feel that I am fighting for the good of our country.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Winning the World Cup and the Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year Award 2003. I competed for the eliminations against more than a thousand athletes in the local tournament, and you can imagine how many bowlers competed in America. I will have to win the local eliminations again in order to represent the country in Singapore this December. If ever I can win this year again, I will make the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to win back-to-back world bowling cups.
Which living person do you most identify with?
Paeng Nepomuceno. I got the chance to share his experiences when we were playing together in the national team. He was also living a healthy life and was dedicated to winning.
Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?
"The Filipino is worth dying for."
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Rejection. I have experienced this several times and it is the one thing that really makes me feel lonely.
What is your favorite occupation?
Teaching special children. Some of them have cerebral palsy, some are retarded, with Down Syndrome. I developed this program, knowing that they would be discriminated against in any normal sports activity. To see their enthusiasm at learning the sport is my reward.
Name an embarrassing moment at work.
In the bowling competition abroad, I stumbled on the lane. No one laughed.
What do you feel guilty about?
I am a vegetarian now, but before I felt guilty about my bad eating habits.
In case of a fire, what would you bring out?
My rosary.
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