Marc Pingris Hopes His Rags-to-Riches story Inspires His Children

Knowing what it was like to have nothing, Magnolia star Marc Pingris doesn't have to look far to find an inspiring life story to share.

The PBA veteran, whose life is a rags-to-riches story, is never ashamed to tell his humble beginnings in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan and he wants his children to learn the value of hard work.

Though his own story, Pingris teaches his son, Mic, and daughter, Caela, that what they have right now is because of hard work, discipline, and faith in God.

“Proud ako na sabihin ‘yun [galing ako sa hirap],” he said.

Ping shared that at a young age he started to work in the market to help his mother and no matter the season he finds ways on how to earn a little extra.

“Lumaki talaga ako sa palengke, naging kargador ako mula eight years old ako pataas na ‘yan,” he recalled. “Kumukuha kami ng prutas sa Urdaneta.”

While other parents don’t want their children to experience the same hardships they had to go through, it's the opposite for Ping.

“Importante rin kasi ‘yung matuto sila paghirapan ang gusto nila, sa akin kasi hindi ko ayaw ko silang ma-spoiled. Mali kasi ‘yung sasabihin mong hindi nila pwedeng maranasan ‘yun [hirap na dinanas mo], mali ‘yun eh,” he pointed out.

“Kailangan din nilang maramdaman ‘yung mga ganoong pagkakataon [mag-strive] para matuto silang tumayo sa sarili nilang paa, ‘yung value ng hard work kasi kapag hindi baka ma-spoiled sila eh,” he added.

Ping, however, stressed that he provides for his family, especially when it comes to food.

All he wanted is to let is children know that they should always be thankful for the blessings that they receive.

“Pero lahat binibigay ko sa pamilya ko, especially sa pagkain, ‘yun ang number one sa akin hindi ko talaga sila ginugutom,” he said.

“Kailangan ko lang ituro sa kanila and alam nila ‘yung buhay ko dahil kini-kwento ko ‘yun. So sabi ko ayaw na ayaw ko ‘yung pag kumakain sila magtitira sila ng pagkain dahil ako namumulot lang ako ng pagkain dati,” he added.

Aside from teaching his children that to do, he shows them how it is done.

During Christmas, he takes his family - Danica, Mic and Caela, to Pangasinan to go around caroling but instead of asking for aguinaldo, they’re the ones giving gifts to other people.

When their schedules would allow, they would go to military camps and visit the soldiers to give them a little inspiration.

“Sa book ko, Puso, Pangarap, Pag-asa, ‘yung lahat ng makukuha kong share ko doon, ido-donate ko sa mga batang may cancer,” he said. “Matagal na ‘to mga two years ago pa pero still available pa.”

“Kapag may mga pagkakataon nagpupunta kami sa mga bayani natin, sa mga sundalo natin, kasi utang natin sa kanila [ang buhay natin] kasi binibuwis nila ang buhay nila samantalang tayo ang sarap ng tulog natin tapos sila malayo sa pamilya then matutulog sila sa damuhan lang mga ganyan. Mga ganoong pagkakataon lang naman,” he added.

This story originally appeared on Spin.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.