Ironkid has heart of steel

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines  – Benjamin Pangilinan, who underwent a heart surgery at four, is, lo and behold, into ultra-tough sports competition five years after the operation.

And he’s doing great.

Benjamin, one of the four sprightly and sporty kids of celebrity parents Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, came in third in the 9-10 age level of the Alaska Ironkids Philippines.

Rafael Penafrel and Craig Uy finished first and second at 15:37.9 and 16:06.0, respectively, with Benjamin finishing third 16 minutes and 32 seconds behind the winner.

“He’s healed now because it’s been five years,” said Benjamin’s mother, the former actress Maricel. “But to see somebody who had gone through something like that, it’s really heartwarming.

“It should also be encouraging and inspiring for other parents probably undergoing something like ours. These are good values we can teach our children that there’s always hope,” she added.

Sisters Tara and Samantha Borlain, daughters of former world bodybuilding champion Ringo, also emerged winners in the Alaska Ironkids Philippines, the children’s version of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines set today at the Camsur Watersports Complex here.

The seven-year-old Tara topped the 6-8 female class in 20:34.3 while Samantha, 8, wound up third in 20:54.9 behind second placer Sophia Almendral, whose six-year-old brother Eric topped his category.

Ringo, who cheered his daughters alongside wife Carol, was impressed with his kids.

“I see the potential. Tara was second to last when she came out of the water, then went on to finish first. She’s a consistent winner in the girls’ category,” said the Borlain patriarch.

“My kids love it anyway. I had planned to compete myself but I was just not ready. Instead, I just trained my daughters for eight weeks to prepare them for this event,” he added.

The other winners were Isiah Dizon, Samuel Roque and Kurt Garcia (11-12 boys), Therese Santos, Andrea Santos and Dexter Bea Salera (11-12 girls), Ingrid Dizon, Sophia Vizcarra and Shaia Uy (9-10 girls), Allen Santiago, Justin Mapalo and Luis Barangan (13-14 boys) and Denise Garcia, Magali Echauz and Josephine Santos (13-14 girls).

Alaska Ironkids organizer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu vowed to make the event bigger next year.

“We’re just really excited to have the first successful Alaska Ironkids, this event is really getting bigger and bigger,” he said.