Filipino bets Lara Pearl Alvarez and Louie Sangalang were in unison in being true to one's self when they competed in ONE Championship's version of "The Apprentice."
But the two differ on the special traits that they have shown in the hit reality television series as Alvarez leaned on courage while Sangalang banked on resilience.
Alvarez and Sangalang, both former martial arts practitioners, were just two of the 16 candidates vying for the $250,000 job offer as the protege of ONE Championship chief Chatri Sidyodtong.
"That is what I will be for this show, I will be a fighter," said Alvarez. "I believe that the more you sacrifice for something, the more you'll give what is beyond your limit. Of all candidates, I think I made the biggest sacrifice."
With this courage comes one of the biggest sacrifices she had to make, leaving her then 10-month-old son Marcuz David back in Benguet to fly to Singapore.
At a young age of 22 years old, Alvarez got pregnant and since then raised his son as a proud single mother.
Sangalang, for his part, is out to prove that his resiliency is just as strong as ever after surviving appendiceal cancer at age 23 more than two decades ago.
In fact, Sangalang is the first Filipino cancer survivor to conquer the North Pole marathon last April 2018, crossing the finish line in 11 hours and four minutes.
Through the years, he became a champion in the Philippine mixed martial arts scene, particularly a former URCC featherweight titleholder, a successful entrepreneur, and a proud father.
"Personally, I want to prove that I am resilient and that I always do my best in every physical task and business challenge. I want to demonstrate my maturity, business acumen, and level-headedness in this competition," said Sangalang.
Alvarez and Sangalang, along with the 14 candidates, will battle in a series of business and physical challenges in the 13-episode reality show set to premiere in Asia on March 18 and globally in June.