Born in Manila in 1980, Jan was raised in his mother’s native town of Bacolod. There, he developed the best cure for his asthma with his interest in swimming. With all three years spent on his high-school varsity, he became the prime ace in the Palarong Pambansa.
On his fourth year, Jan went on a student’s exchange program in Canada. After a short stint in a Michigan college, he moved to Hawaii to pursue a passion close to his element, to be a Marine Science Major. Naturally, being the water baby that he is, he spent much of his time in Aloha land with a surfboard in tow, still trying to cure his asthma.
Now, he’s finishing a course in Multimedia Arts at the College of Saint Benilde, where he is a part of the college’s swimming roster for the NCAA. And as much as he wants to be nameless, he also became the newest toast of the fashion scene when he bagged the highly-coveted Face of Anonymous competition last summer, his claim to fame being, "my smile, that’s what they say. I might as well take their word for it." True enough, he sky-rocketed to being one of the most sought-after heartthrobs to date.
But don’t expect to find him in dingy bars that stir the Metro. He avoids smoke, perhaps still in need of some respiratory tune-up. As for girls: "I just want a simple girl, nice, really down-to-earth and not too sophisticated, but not too carefree. Just adventurous. I don’t want her to be materialistic, and she has to have a good sense of humor. Not corny nor scandalous, and she has to dress up appropriately. I don’t want too much flesh exposed."
What’s your greatest achievement as an athlete?
Being able to travel to many places and meeting different people.
What makes an athlete?
Dedication, patience, and hard work. All of them are pretty inter-related; lose one, and you get nothing.
What breaks an athlete?
Vices, vices, and more vices. And you know what I’m talking about.
What’s your main motivation?
Music and inspirational stories really motivate me.
What have you learned most from the sport?
I really learned that you can’t just sit and expect to excel, you have to do something to start big things. If you were to choose between being the world’s most gorgeous heartthrob or being the world’s best athlete, which would you choose?
The world’s best athlete. Come on, did you honestly think that I would practice everyday just to be a heartthrob?
What’s your break from all the stress and strain?
I usually stop training for a while and go on having a little fun. I just love going on vacations.
How would you encourage others to get into sports?
Live a good life! Be in sports! It will take you everywhere!
(To be continued)