Columbian Dyip power forward Jackson Corpuz is a dreamer who lives for the toil.
His ever-changing hair color on game days may not say it, but Jackson's one hombre toughened by the adversities he'd conquered and the trials he'd bounced back from. Which is why the three-year PBA vet has every reason to feel good about everything that he's achieved so far in his career.
We say "veteran," by the way, because Jackson has been around the game for a while. When he went undrafted in the 2014 PBA Draft, the colorful defensive bruiser from the powerful PCU Dolphins team of the early 2010s proved his mettle in the PBA D League for three years. His first winning moment happened when he finally saw action for Mahindra (Columbian's former club name) in 2017.
Fast forward to 2019, Corpuz has another reason to call himself a champion in life: He finally received his Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management degree at the Philippine Christian University.
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“Bago ako mag-PBA kasi, ‘yun din ang gusto ko [makapagtapos ng pag-aaral],” Jackson tells SPIN Life. “Hindi naman panghabambuhay nandito ako sa basketbal, hindi natin alam ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw.”
He was supposed to graduate in 2016, but he could never find the time to finish the on-the-job training required to wrap up his schooling. Thanks to his girlfriend's encouragement, Jackson finally committed to hurdling the 600-hour internship needed to earn his diploma, vowing to do it not just for himself but for their future family as well.
He sought the help of Columbian Dyip team governor Bobby Rosales, who was very much willing to lend him a hand, referring him to a hotel where he could apply for his OJT.
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Fresh from inking his new three-year deal with Columbian in December 2018, Jackson immediately buckled down to work as January rolled along, attending morning team practices at Azure in Parañaque before dashing off to Fersal Hotel in Quezon City to tackle another round of grueling work.
“Eight hours per day ‘yun," Jackson, who finished his OJT last April, recalls. "Kailangan mong mag-ayos ng kama, kailangan mong matuto maglinis, maglilinis ka ng inodoro, kung kailangan mo rin mag-waiter, magwe-waiter ka rin.
“Nakakapagod din kasi syempre practice ka sa umaga," he adds. "Buti na lang pwede ako magsabi sa boss ko [sa OJT] na kung pwedeng mag-OT na lang kung [late ako makakapasok].”
The backbreaking schedule tested Jackson's fortitude no end, but he was determined to see it through.
“Hindi ko rin naisip na sumuko,” he says. “Never kasi ako nag-iisip ng negative. Kasi kapag ganun mas lalo ka lang mada-down. Inisip ko na lang [na motivation] kapag nakatapos ako, isa ‘yun sa pinakamagandang gifts ko sa Mama ko.”
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Corpuz, who was inspired by former PCU greats Jayson Castro and Gabby Espinas, points out another reason why he persevered. Through his efforts, he wants to inspire other student-athletes to prioritize their studies even when they're already getting paid to play the game they love.
“Sobrang saya ko kasi may pinanghahawakan na ako eh,” says a proud Jackson. “Kami kasi ang tinitignan din ng mga bata na role model. So syempre gustong mong ipaunawa na hindi lang porke nasa pro na [titigil ka na].”
Aside from his HRM degree, Jackson also completed a two-year vocational course on Automotive at Samson College in Legarda, Manila a couple of years ago.
Outside of his girlfriend and the family he hopes to establish with her in the future, Jackson says his relentless pursuit of education is his way of paying tribute to his mom, who shed tears of joy when he learned about his son's latest achievement.
“Sobrang saya kasi isa yung sa maipagmamalaki ko kapag nagkaroon na rin ako ng pamilya at saka gift ko na rin sa parents ko,” he says. “Nakita ko naman sa mata ng Mama ko na masaya siya. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa PCU na binigyan ako ng award,”
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