Epitome of resilience and bravery: Filipino runner heads to the North Pole

The FWD North Pole Marathon is set to happen on April 9 at the northernmost and coldest part of the Earth, and the Philippines’ sole representative is an epitome of resilience and bravery.

Filipino multi-sport athlete Luisito “Louie” Sangalang is joining ten other FWD-sponsored runners from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan to form the FWD Team Asia. The runners are going to endure a 42-kilometer marathon on a six to 12 feet thick ice sheet floating in the Arctic Ocean with an average temperature of 30 below zero. Certainly, this undertaking requires a lot of guts.

But Louie has gone through much worse.

Louie was diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 21. It caught him by surprise, affecting his studies and family life, but he was able to keep his body and soul together and bravely won the battle against the disease. After that, he became a champion of healthy lifestyle and eventually discovered his passion for triathlon and marathon.

Now, Louie proves to be the best person to represent the country in the world’s “coolest” marathon and inspire people who are going through life challenges.

“Louie’s inspiring story of being a cancer survivor and his passion for fitness, which he uses to inspire Filipinos to live an active lifestyle, also best represent what FWD stands for: embracing the opportunities in your life without hesitation,” said FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Peter Grimes.

FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Peter Grimes expresses his support for FWD North Pole Marathon Philippine representative Louie Sangalang during the FWD Sendoff Party in BGC.

In terms of the support he’s getting, Louie is totally warmed up and ready for the challenge. He is supported in different ways by “The FWD Squad” composed of Filipino mountaineering history-maker Romi Garduce, triathlon coach Ani De Leon-Brown, running coach Ige Lopez, celebrity mom Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and her son Benjamin, and radio DJ and host Sam YG.

Members of Louie Sangalang’s support squad, Romi Garduce, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and son Benjamin shares motivational messages during the FWD Sendoff Party in BGC.

A send-off party was held for Louie last March 22 in BGC, attended by FWD executives and team members, North Pole Marathon campaign collaborators, Louie’s friends and relatives, and the FWD Squad.