FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES
Golf is saving this disc jockey’s life By January Guia Caringal-Bawat
W
alter David B. Abuan Jr. or Wally, as he is fondly called, is a businessman and a popular radio personality in La Union. As a young entrepreneur and broadcast practitioner, he was determined to earn a living for his family. Eventually, at the age of 30, he and his wife Michelle became the owner of two radio stations, Love Radio La Union (FM) and Aksyon Radio (AM). Known as "Manny Pakwan," in radio, he also works as a disc jockey at the two stations he owns. The couple became deeply immersed in entrepreneurship, and as the radio stations flourished, they decided to diversify and open new businesses, such as a new restaurant, a junk shop, distribution of beverages, and leasing of parking spaces. Being in such fast-paced industries entailed socializing, which led Wally to smoke and drink a lot. With this kind of lifestyle, by the age of 40, he was diagnosed with diabetes. This deadly disease immediately forced him to change his lifestyle. It was at this time in his life when he ventured into sports.
“I was into running and airsoft,” Wally recalls. “I played airsoft with my kids because I was young back then. But later, after five years, I was diagnosed as hypertensive. The saying that life begins at 40 is not true at all because at 40, all the diseases came out. My sugar and cholesterol levels began to shoot up. Because of my situation, I decided to stop all my vices, and practice a healthy lifestyle. I looked for activities that would keep my body fit.” In his mid-40s, Wally discovered what would soon become a huge passion: golf. His golf journey started when a business associate invited Wally to join him at the course. At first, Wally was hesitant to try it because he had always assumed that it was an expensive sport. “During that time, I was very busy with my family, and I was at that time in my life when I needed to earn because my kids were growing up and the needs of the family were also increasing,” he tells us. “Before getting into anything, you must balance your finances. This is also the reason why I started playing golf late.” Collective / Issue 14 35