JR Gallarza: Fulfilling a basketball player’s teaching dream

JR Gallarza with then two year-old son, Reinen (Supplied)

Bright lights, surrounded by cameras, and bleachers filled with people screaming your name – for an aspiring professional basketball player, this is the dream. You’re in the middle of one of the biggest venues in the country, wearing the State University’s jersey with pride. Ball in hand, degree completed, you realize that this is what you’ve always wanted to pursue, or is it?

That’s the question that Canadian-born JR Gallarza had to face upon graduating from the University of the Philippines (UP), after years of representing his school in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP). He had it all in the works for himself to become a professional basketball player but chose to step away from that dream because home really remained in the quaint town of Brantford, Ontario.

From Brantford

JR grew up with first-generation immigrant parents Reynaldo and Rosalinda from Pampanga, admitting that they initially “struggled” to adjust upon arriving in Canada. “They would tell me stories about how hard it was for them immigrating. From losing multiple jobs at the worst times to having to do jobs they didn’t necessarily like,” even recalling how his parents had to once face losing their jobs as soon as they had enough to pay for a home, leaving them with only $100 Canadian dollars left in their bank account.

With that, JR had to face the “pros and cons” in growing up in a predominantly Caucasian community as well.

Initially, JR couldn’t even understand English as his parents raised his household to speak Filipino and Kapampangan, so when attending Kindergarten, he was not responsive to the people around him. He laughs, “Funny story, my parents actually got called into the principal’s office because I didn’t speak to anyone. So, the teacher and principal asked my parents to speak to me in only English.”

Although JR was aware that he didn’t look like the people around him, he decided to use that to his advantage. “My dad would always tell me that if I were to do anything bad, or the same ‘bad thing’ my friends were, I would most likely be the one to get more of the blame because I stick out more.” However, that did not stop him from being himself, claiming, “that was true,” but he liked sticking out, “I would use my ‘exotic look’ to my advantage at times as the outgoing person I was in school,” he shared.

And ‘sticking out’ did work in his favor, as JR was recognized for being exceptional in basketball at a young age. At the age of four, he began participating in a house league, but he says he “never looked back after that and other sports or activities never really interested [him] the way basketball did.”

“Basketball truly had my heart. I also stood out more when it came to accomplishments and being on the basketball court in Canada [because of my race].”

To Manila

When he was in the 11th grade, JR and his basketball teammates visited the Philippines, where he “fell in love with the lifestyle” and soon received offers to play in Filipino universities.

“Wake up, workout, class, practice, games, fans, the lights and camera, the repetition, I loved it all,” he adds, saying that their visit came at a perfect time because tuition in Canada was too pricey and he wanted to seek out other options.

Although his dad Rey and mom Linda worked modest jobs as a bus driver and factory worker,
which are “higher scale standard jobs in Canada over the Philippines,” JR wanted to relieve his parents from the financial responsibility by using his talents to acquire a scholarship. With an interest in studying Education, his program cost around $30,000 – $40,000 Canadian dollars if he remained in Ontario.

Staying in Manila

JR graduates Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Education from University of the Philippines. (Supplied)

JR was actually a Green Archer when he first moved to the Philippines, until he decided to pursue his studies at UP, where he took up Elementary Education.

“It was a beautiful struggle at UP. Both on and off the court. They really made me earn my diploma and Magna honours- they made me earn my maroon stripes.”

Two years into his studies, JR hit a curveball, which eventually gave him a sense of purpose. At the age of 19, he found out that he would become a father to his son Reinen.

“The birth of my son changed everything but in the best way. It made life 100x more difficult, but he’s worth it and more. Reinen came two years after I was in the Philippines and with that being said, I was halfway finished school. So, he and I just had to hang in there to be together again.”

For the next two years, JR watched his son grow up in his parents’ household through endless amounts of video calls while he continued to pursue what he started – a collegiate basketball career and obtaining an Education degree. With his basketball skills, he soon became a crowd favorite for the Fighting Maroon fans, who were looking for a win after 27 loses. And after 720 days since UP has tasted victory, JR became the second-highest pointer for the game that finally had his school celebrating with a bonfire.

As he enjoyed the attention of being an athlete with magazine features, brand deals, and a bigger social media following, JR shares that his priorities always focused on academics.

“I had to earn my parents’ trust each semester because of Reinen coming unexpectedly, so I had to show them I wasn’t just goofing around in the Philippines by showing them my grades and doing my best on the court.”

Because of “the promise” he made to his parents of “keeping the scholarship” he has been blessed with and “to make the sacrifice worth it,” JR successfully juggled going to-and-from practice to class, eventually graduating Magna Cum Laude in his major. He was even awarded during the Spin.ph Sportsman of the Year ceremony for the category Sportsmen who Excelled Academically.

On what he learned in going to one of the toughest universities in the country, JR states, “From stressing to set up the perfect class schedule around basketball, to stressing to get to class, to stressing when actually being in class, to stressing about class when going to games (I brought homework to the locker rooms in extreme cases or hide work on my phone so I didn’t look distracted)…I really learned how to breathe and be still and to take things one step at a time, one task at a time.”

With national recognition for breaking the odds of an athlete’s inability to focus on school as well, JR was also predicted to be one of the top picks for the upcoming Philippine Basketball Association Draft. The odds were all in his favor and what he had established himself as for the past few years he’s been in the country were a dream come true. However, something was missing – which led to an aching feeling and a sense of depression.

And back to Brantford

ROLE has been running since 2016 and has trained over 250 athletes. (Supplied)

Despite the opportunities to build success in the Philippines, JR says that his reason for returning to Canada was a no-brainer.

“Reinen. 100% hands down, my son. He was about to turn four and start kindergarten and I just had to suck it up and decide to go home to my son. I told myself that I had a good run with basketball, but it was now my responsibility to provide a life where my son can grow up having dreams – and I help him reach them.”

From overflowing directions in Manila to an empty hand in Canada, initially moving from the glitz and glam to a more simple life took a strain in JR’s mental and emotional health. A lot of occupations and masteral schools in Canada did not credit a Philippine university diploma, despite its Magna Cum Laude status.

He says, “They were telling me it would be a one-year process just to review my papers, and another two to three years of school most likely.”

Not knowing what to do, he decided to take a leap of faith.

“I just felt lost for a span of months and would literally be in tears contemplating what was next in my life. I gave up chasing a pro basketball career to be in Canada, I had this woman that supported me in everything,” referring to his now-fiancé, Holly Wolf, whom he met just three weeks before moving back to Canada and was coincidentally based in Toronto, “and I just wanted to be able to provide for her, and of course I had this beautiful boy that needed his dad to be a provider.”

He continues, “My parents were pushing me to go back to school and I was very against that. I hated school to be honest. More so after the news that was broken to me, so I stepped back and typed in, ‘How to start a business’ on Google.”

And that’s where his business ROLE came about, a training camp that promotes “confidence building and leadership development” while also focusing on “skill development and fitness development” in the sport of basketball.

The brand, which was created in February 2016 states on its website: “Role is named and built on the foundation that with all of his life experiences, Coach JR Gallarza has never really been a “superstar”. He was always a ‘role player’ who played with heart and integrity. These attributes created amazing highs in his life that he now hopes to share with others.”

With this, JR was able to find a profession that combines his love for basketball and passion for teaching.

“I graduated as a teacher and I have so much love and respect for teachers, but I personally couldn’t do what they did on an everyday basis. Although I fell out of love with teaching in a classroom, I still love educating and empowering our youth, which is why I do it in our unique way now with basketball skill training and holistic development.”

ROLE has been successfully running for more than two years, with JR and his coaching staff working with 250+ athletes. Starting with elementary students and younger, they have expanded to various ages and fitness levels and one of their trainees even recently received a sports scholarship offer.

“As a person, as a business, as a family man- growth is number one. I just want to keep helping our athletes chase and reach their goals, be the best father and fiancé I can be, and just keep living a positive lifestyle.”

At the age of 26, JR currently lives in the same humble home he grew up in that his parents purchased years ago, yet, just a few months ago, he announced accomplishing another milestone – buying his own house with fiancé Holly, where they will soon live with six year-old Reinen and dog Kovu.

Back to the Philippines (someday)

With fiance Holly Wolf, who he hopes he moves back to the Philippines with someday. (photo supplied)

Despite finding his identity in Canada and stabilizing his life, JR shares that the Philippines still remains constantly in his thoughts.

“Holly and I actually plan on getting married there! It will be a small destination wedding and one she agreed to plan around the UAAP season for me so Reinen and I can watch UP play. But that will be for after our home is finished and my business is more steady.”

He elaborates even possibly relocating to “the country that made his dreams come true” in the future.

“Holly and I talk about actually living on a beach or just traveling for a year there once Reinen is finished high school. So definitely a possibility for us in the future! Honestly, life is too beautiful to be stressed and worried about what’s supposed to come next. Our backup plan is to literally just eat mangoes and coconuts all day somewhere on Palawan.”

On whether he identifies being a Canadian or a Filipino more, JR says that he “identifies with the other one more when [he’s] in the opposite country.”

“I know I stand-out in one way or another when I’m in Canada and when I’m in the Philippines – so I just try and own it. I’m a 6’3″ – 6’4″ moreno Filipino with a ‘Canadian accent’ and has a slang that turns on and off every now and then. In Canada I stand out by how I look, in the Philippines, I stand-out by how I sound and carry myself. Race aside, I just hope I’m doing all of my people proud by being the best human I can be.”

And amidst the crazy rollercoaster of finding stability in one location, looking back at the highs and lows, he shares the mindset that kept him persevering and keeping his priorities straight.

“I am so thankful for my past, good or bad, as it has made me appreciate what I have today and tomorrow.”