Francisco Borlain: Built for destiny

How does one know if they are truly determined? Is having the drive to do something enough to call someone determined? Or is it when someone is able to overcome the obstacles that block his or her path the true measurement of determination? If you take a look at the life of Francisco Borlain, a fitness professor in De La Salle University, you will discover what true determination looks like.

Borlain’s story is one that has the makings to be a great movie or novel. It is an underdog story of a boy that grew up in a cemetery and wanted to change his life through fitness. Remaining faithful and determined to realize his dream, he eventually became a part of history as one of the first Filipinos to claim the title of Mr. Universe. It is a story that perfectly depicts determination, and is filled with hardships, success, and what some may call miracles.

Lifting himself from poverty

Borlain grew up in the Manila South Cemetery in Makati city, where his father worked in various jobs, including grave digging. Ever since he was a child, he was determined to rise from the indigent lifestyle he experienced. “I started as far as I remember, I was seven years old. That was the only way for me to get a better life… I grew up in the cemetery and you don’t see hope there. Living in the cemetery is not fun. I see that there is a better future [in body building]. The life that we had there when I was young, that’s not the life that I want and I said that I want to do something,” shares the father of two.

With his outstanding stature and physique, Borlain then used these attributes as a way to earn a living. Luck then played a big part on getting his first job in the fitness industry. While working in the US Military base as a waiter in 1990, a high-ranking member of the US Army hired him on the spot to be a fitness trainer for the soldiers just because he looked physically imposing. He was then sent to the Military base in Saudi Arabia to facilitate the training missions. Three years later, he came back to the Philippines and worked as a fitness trainer in various establishments including La Salle and the PBA team, San Miguel Beermen.

Borlain only started competitive bodybuilding when he was 33 years old, an age when most bodybuilders have already passed their prime. He first joined “The Ironman” competition and took home the top prize.

“It’s fun! Actually, it’s fun because you don’t know what to expect. It’s like you’re curious and you want to prove yourself. There’s a shyness because you wear only the ‘skimpy’ thing siyempre nahihiya ka,” says Borlain, regarding his first competition. For the next few years, he would have his fair share of victories and defeats in high-level competitions. Having said that, he briefly paused his bodybuilding career in 2003 to concentrate more on his financial security.

Pushing through

More than two years out of competitive bodybuilding, Borlain took a gigantic step in 2006 when he applied to join the prestigious Mr. Universe contest. To his surprise, he aced the local qualifiers and received an invitation to compete in the main event, which was held in Cuxhaven, Germany later that year. This was when he realized he had just reached the highest level of competition and there was no tuning back from that moment on.

“It was very difficult. It was very challenging because if you compare our bodies to others, we are relatively small. The challenge there is physically and of course, money is very important,” Borlain further expounds. “We don’t get support kasi so mental na rin. That’s the challenge. The mere fact that you believe that you’re doing this because you love it, no one can stop you.”

Although it seemed like he was on the way to certain success, Borlain faced plenty of hardships even before arriving in Germany. He was not aware at first that everything he needs for the competition, including the flight tickets and food, would be coming from his own pocket. The journey almost ended then and there for Borlain, if it weren’t for the people who helped him financially throughout the process. People whom he barely knew offered to pay for the plane tickets to and from Germany as well as for his food and accommodation.

Generous donations, including a 200-Dollar stipend by the government, amounted to 500 US Dollars, although Borlain admitted that this wouldn’t be sufficient for the trip. As it turned out, more and more people became aware of his situation and were inspired by him. In just a span of ten hours, cash handouts and donations piled up and Borlain received a total of 3,500 Dollars, far more than he would have imagined.

The performance of a lifetime

After all that he has been through, Borlain finally made it to Cuxhaven, Germany for the Mr. Universe competition. Just as the dust was about to settle, he was suddenly faced with a whole new reality that proved to be one of his greatest challenges yet – intimidation. The very moment he stepped foot in the competition, he was already met head on by this challenge and it never left his side. When asked about his thoughts of finally getting there and seeing his competition for the first time, he shares, ”There’s no way to win. I mean, your chance of winning is very slim.”

According to him, as early as the first weigh-in he was already highly discouraged by the press present during that time. “At that time, I was watching curiously what was going on inside so I tried to look and when I saw that they were getting pictures, I got so excited because now it’s my turn. [Since] it’s my turn; I’m expecting the same treatment. When you step on the weighing scale, they measure your height and write it down and some of the press will take pictures and some are being interviewed. When it was my turn, only one flash and nobody else [took a picture],” shares Borlain. He recounts how even during pre-judging, the intimidation factor was escalating even more. In this stage, all the athletes are lined up on the stage in two rows so that a comparison can be made. According to Borlain, the most important spot is the middle part of the stage since the people will be able to see you the best. On the other hand, the worst parts are the sides because people will only be able to see a glimpse of you. As he recounts his experience, he shares, “The one calling called our numbers [and told] us to go to the left side of the stage and then they called the Russian to go to the middle. Parang sinabihan na hindi kayo bagay diyan so pinaalis kami.”

After being intimidated and discouraged over and over again, he admitted that he was very close to quitting. But because of the support that he got from his friend, he pressed on. “I called my friend and he said, ‘don’t quit.’ and then he said, ‘You’ll never know if you will be given another chance. You’ll never know. While you are there, you work hard on this. Push it.’ … And I said, ‘Okay, I trust you.’ and the rest is history,” says Borlain.

Because of sheer perseverance and faith, him and his partner, Maria Crishiela Abantao, made it to the finals of the couples’ competition, where they competed against the couple from Russia. As he shares his experience standing there with the other couple before the judges announced the winners, he recounts what was going through his mind at that time.

“When us and the Russians were the last four people standing, I prayed. I prayed so hard because actually I said, ‘Okay if I place second or first runner-up, I already win. I already win.’ …My prayer was if we win, I’m gonna inspire more. That was the prayer that I [said],” shares Borlain. Against all odds, Francisco and Maria were chosen to be winners of the competition because of their stellar performance in the finals that earned them the highest score. Knowing that he has finally achieved his dream, he talks about what was going through his mind during that moment. “Siyempre, iiyak ka talaga. Gusto ko ng lumuhod because it was so sweet you know? You’re not thinking about money, you’re not thinking about anything but it was given to you. You were chosen,” says Borlain.

Pursuing his passion

Fifteen years ago, a friend of Borlain invited him to work for DLSU, and he has been a Physical Education professor for the FTSPORT class in the University since then. As it turned out, his passion for fitness reached far more than the physical benefits, but also the values that he teaches to his students that come with it.

“Working here is one of the best jobs I’ve ever done. For me, it’s one of the best, speaking out of experience because sports is my first love. This is what brought me to who I am. It’s sports. And teaching is a combination of my passion and my dream, my life. Teaching and sports, it’s a perfect combination and you can’t go wrong with it,” Borlain exclaimed.

Francisco Borlain isn’t the typical fitness professor you can encounter in DLSU. His passion for fitness and improving one’s self is what makes him stand out as a professor. Currently serving his 15th year as professor in DLSU, he is secured and happy about where he is right now. “La Salle is one of the prestigious schools. When you get here, it’s an honor to teach plus you combine it with your passion so it works well,” shares Borlain. Even though he had tough times as a professor in DLSU, he shares that in spite of these challenges, his goal is to inspire the students. “Sometimes, you’re gonna get drained but I always try to inspire kids in the little ways that I can. I push them to work harder but sometimes I comfort them if I need to do it,“ says Borlain.