Sinabi ni Mr. World Philippines 2018, University of the Philippines graduate at golfer na si JB Saliba na sadyang malapit sa kaniya ang mga bata, lalo na ang mga may autism, kaya gusto niya silang tulungan sa pamamagitan ng sports.

Sa pagbisita ng Mr. World Philippines 2018 winners sa GMA Network nitong Biyernes, ikinuwento ni JB na nakapag-aral siya nang dahil sa sports.

"My main advocacy is actually [to] help the kids. I want to help normal kids and kids with autism, kasi ako, I actually made my future because of sports. Ever since I was a little kid, six years old ako nagbe-baseball na ako, all the way up to college, umabot na ako ng, I was a Junior RP Team, and then UAAP player ng U.P. So it really paid for my college. So I'm here right now because of sports. I wouldn't be also the man I am now, I won't have my discipline, I won't have my charisma just because of everything I've learned about sports."

 

 

"So I want to share that to people, to give that other kids opportunity to create a future out of it," pagpapatuloy ni JB.

Natanong ng GMA News Online kung bakit malapit kay JB ang mga batang may kapansanan.

"'Cause I have this one class in U.P. na we handled kids, people with disabilities. Actually, napunta ako sa kids who are blind. So I actually fell in love with them and it made me reach out kung ano pa ang puwede, and how can I help them through sports."

"And I really think sa kids with autism, there's a lot of world class athletes who have autism. Let's say Michael Phelps. He's a world-class swimmer and he has autism. Bakit hindi natin tulungan 'yung mga Filipino kids? Kasi itong mga bata na ito, when they focus talaga, sobrang focused niyan. So kung gusto nila, let's make them try. Malay natin we have the next Michael Phelps or the next Manny Pacquiao. Andu-doon lang. We just have to encourage them and help them all throughout. Makikita naman natin 'yun eh."

Ngayong irerepresenta niya ang Pilipinas para sa Mr. World International sa 2019, tinanong din kung pressured ba si JB ngayon.

"Well, you can't actually overthink about anything kasi du'n ka lang talaga mape-pressure, so I don't wanna think about it. I just wanna go with the flow, do with it, have fun with it and make the best out of it. Ayoko siyang isipin nang sobra na it will make me overthink dahil ma-i-stress lang ako, mas nadi-distract ako 'pag ganoon eh."

Pag-aamin ni JB, relaxed muna siya sa ngayon. "You just have to relax and have fun with it."

Ayon pa kay Mr. World Philippines, hangga't maaari ay hindi niya muna gaanong iniisip kung paano niya sasagutin ang mga mahihirap na tanong ng Q&A.

"You really can't prepare too much dahil you can't really, hindi mo naman talaga malalaman kung ano ang ibabato sa 'yo especially sa Q&A. Like the Q&A for this pageant, I really didn't study for it dahil ayoko nang pagdating ko du'n andaming papasok sa isip ko. So the first thing that pops in my mind, 'yun na lang 'yung sasabihin ko eh," ani JB.

Aminado si JB na ganado rin siya dahil sa suporta ng mga Pilipino at ng mga kababayan niyang taga-Olongapo.

"The preparation is, hopefully, I get a lot of supporters na will help me more ngayon to become the new Mr. World. Kasi tulad na lang din sa pageant na ito, there are people who keep on messaging me, trying to ask me questions, sample Q&A, so people are already helping me dito pa lang. So looking forward for more people na tutulong sa akin and I'm really gonna accept anything that comes in."

Bukas naman kaya siyang pumasok sa showbiz?

"After the pageant, whatever knocks in my door. Siyempre hindi ko rin masabi if showbiz is gonna knock or I'm gonna go to flying school or a different path that comes through, whatever I think fits me more or will make me more happier, I'll go to that path."

"Pero siyempre, as Mr. World [Philippines], nandito na ako eh. I'll pursue this. I'll make the best out of it." — LA, GMA News