Filipino world champions: Against the odds in PH

Hidilyn Diaz's victory represents the story of many Filipinos who overcame poverty by daring to dream and work hard for it, and showed that if one looks hard enough for support and are willing to sacrifice, Filipinos too can reach the top of the world.

Hidilyn along with Manny Pacquiao and Efren "Bata" Reyes, among the other greats, all experienced difficulties yet became world champions. Stories that would become legends now paint a Diaz practicing with water bottles and bamboo poles that recalls Pacquiao doing sit-ups on a plank of wood tied to a tree. Manny was coached by an uncle and embraced competitive boxing to help feed his family. Bata also lived with an uncle who owned a pool hall where he learned to hustle to support his eight siblings.