Ana 'The Hurricane' Julaton is the first ever female Fil-American to win the Women's WBO Super Bantamweight and International Boxing Association Super Bantamweight titles.

Recently, the Philippines was visited by a “hurricane” named Ana Julaton.

Fresh from winning her third world championship title in Ontario, Canada last June 30, a bout recently aired over GMA-7, the 30-year-old Filipino-American boxer breezed through the country in a touching homecoming that she says will forever be in her heart.

Beating her Mexican opponent Maria Elena Villalobos after 10 rounds, Ana finally won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Female Super Bantamweight belt after a split decision in her favor. This makes her the first ever female Fil-American to win the Women’s WBO Super Bantamweight and International Boxing Association (IBA) Super Bantamweight titles.

Now under the wings of famed boxing coach Freddie Roach, yes the very same man who made a champ of Manny Pacquiao, Ana now holds a record of seven wins (with one knockout), two losses, and one draw.

People who are not familiar with Ana would probably mistake her for some balikbayan trying to make it into local showbiz. Guys would even probably try to hit on her, sans knowing that the very girl in front of them is a professional boxer—and a champion at that! But you won’t blame them after you meet Ana, who at 5’5” is close to being petite and who seems softer and more feminine, a far cry from the tough, tough girl exchanging jabs and hooks with an opponent.

Yet Ana, who grew up in San Francisco, California, never dreamt of slugging it out in the ring. “I did not like boxing at all. I thought it was too violent. I didn’t understand it,” she exclaims.

Growing up and starting out as female boxer in the United States was difficult, Ana admits. “There’s a lot of racism, a lot of segregation, there’s a lot of sexism as well and a lot of these battles had to be fought,” she laments.

But when Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao started to break barriers for the Filipino race, that’s the time when Ana realized that it was time to step into the arena and show ‘em what she’s made of!

In this 60 Minutes interview, Ana Julaton reveals how it is like to emerge victorious in a male-dominated sport, how boxing has led her to discover herself and her Filipino roots, how she considers herself lucky to be trained by no less than Freddie Roach, and why she will always wear her hair femininely long. Despite showing no mercy inside the ring, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton is all woman, all heart, and all Filipino. (Ina Hernando-Malipot)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN (SCB): What is a beautiful girl like you doing in the boxing ring?

ANA JULATON (AJ): I did not like boxing at all. I thought it was too violent. I didn’t understand it but I had good teachers and they taught me the science and techniques behind it. When I got into the ring the first time, I was getting hit and I did not like people pushing me around. I wanted to figure out what I could do to protect myself.

SCB: If boxing was too violent for you, then why did you pursue it?

AJ: I saw that you have to have discipline and you have to be smart in the ring. You have to have a lot of heart and with that, I was able to have a lot of respect for it. Through boxing, I felt like I was able to learn more about myself, my culture. It was my destiny because I never dreamt of becoming a boxer but so many things ended up happening and since I’m in this position, I wanted to do my best with it.

SCB: Who was your main influence in getting into this sport?

AJ: My father was a big Bruce Lee fan (laughs). In America, there wasn’t a lot of Filipinos on TV that we can look up to and the closest thing for us was Bruce Lee. Even though he was Chinese, he had the closest skin color to ours, so in a way it was easy for us in America to identify towards him.

SCB: How did your family react the first time they learned you were boxing?

AJ: Hesitant. They wanted me to stop because they were more afraid of me getting hurt. But I had to show them that I was not fooling around and I was disciplined. I had to show them my work ethic and it was always important for me to win.

SCB: Did they try to stop you or discourage you?

AJ: They would tell me how they felt but they would not reprimand me. In a way, my parents didn’t give themselves that opportunity to do what they wanted. So now, they’re not going to stop me because they know it’s in my heart, and I am thankful for that.

SCB: How did you get the nickname “The Hurricane”?

AJ: It was so hard for people to say my last name correctly. My last name starts with a “J” and they pronounce it like “gelatin,’’ they would massacre it! And so we told them to call me Hurricane, “Hulaton” so they can say it right. That always bothered me too because especially in America, if you’re having these events and you wanna recognize someone, the name is very important. Being the only Filipino in a national tournament, the host would never take the time to say my name right even after we told him. We always pushed it.

Filipina in a mean, man's world

SCB: How does boxing help you discover more about your culture and yourself?

AJ: When I started in 2004, people within the community in the United States were taking a lot of interest in Pacquiao. My mother would tell me about him. Several students in my martial arts class would tell me about him. But I was not a boxing fan. But when I started watching him and how he fights, I started learning a little bit more about the sport.

But what really pushed me over was when I joined an amateur tournament and a group of Filipino kids and their parents came up to me and said: “Good job! Go up there and represent us well.” At that moment, I felt I was representing more than myself. There were kids watching me too and it was important that I stay positive and train hard to be an example to them. It’s like a responsibility.

SCB: But before you got into boxing, what was your relationship with the Filipino part of your being?

AJ: It can be so easy to get lost in all the different cultures because I feel like I represent a whole population of all Filipino-Americans and also Filipino-Canadians and everyone else across the world. Since you live in a different nation, you could be easily swayed to think about your nation first before your culture. My grandfather knew how to speak English, Tagalog, Kapampangan. He would speak in these dialects and my lola could not understand. My lolo did not pass that on to my father or my aunties because he wanted them to be Americans so they won’t be segregated from the society. There’s so many different cultures in America and it’s very easy to be lost in that. We have African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Italian-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and there’s Filipino-Americans as well. But if a person is not guided enough, they can almost forget their own culture.

SCB: And there was a talk about you being Fil-Am representing the Philippines…

AJ: I had the opportunity to be in this sport because of what my father and my grandfather have done. My grandfather was supposed to be a farmer in the Philippines, he was the youngest of 13 kids. But there wasn’t any land left for him so he left the country and fought his way over to the US. He enlisted in the US Army and he faced racism and death threats because no one knew who the Filipino was in America. But he kept fighting, thinking “I need to do this for my family so they could have better opportunities” because there wasn’t a job back in the Philippines.

The opportunity to be a female in a male-dominated sport was given because they all had fought for us. I want to do well in it because again I am not just going there for myself but I always have to remember what everyone did in the past.

SCB: Were you ever discriminated because you were Filipino or because you were a girl? Or because you looked different?

AJ: Opo (laughs). We can easily be thought of as Japanese, Chinese or Korean but we are Filipinos, we are completely different in a completely different island. You write down your identification, and you write down all these different cultures but there’s no half Filipino and you’d ask “Where’s me?” So you carry it as you grow old. You’d think I’m like Asian but we are not Asian.

Now, there’s more confidence in the Filipino community and those around the world obviously because Manny Pacquiao went out there and he broke a lot of barriers for us. And now, you can see us all over TV, we’re dancing, singing, boxing — all these different things and even football. In America, they have basketball coaches who are Filipino. So it’s nice to see these icons popping out from everywhere. I think there is just this connection now that is developing and getting stronger and will eventually be at a higher level.

SCB: Which part of America did you grow up in?

AJ: San Francisco.

SCB: So you never experienced being the only brown person in class?

AJ: I grew up in Daly City, which has a high population of Filipinos. In my high school, I probably graduated with about 90 percent Filipino-Americans, but only a very small percent of those could speak Tagalog because like everyone else, we were trying to attach ourselves to the American side. We didn’t understand.

SCB: Let’s take it the other way around…have you ever been been discriminated against for not being Filipino enough?

AJ: Yes, because I didn’t speak the language. I do want to speak Tagalog, I can understand more than I can speak it. I think it’s getting better, the relationship between Tagalog-speaking natives and English-speaking natives. I think they’re starting to feel more of a connection because there is more understanding. The language is beautiful. When I hear people talk, oh my goodness, I think it’s more romantic than French. I can feel it when people talk!

On Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach

SCB: How did your parents make sure that you stayed connected with Filipino values?

AJ: It was more my grandparents. My lola, while she’s cooking Filipino food, she’d say, “You should appreciate what you have, because where I come from, we don’t have this. We don’t have water, we don’t have ice.” And she’d tell stories about what she had to go through.

SCB: How did you stop yourself from being discouraged by discrimination?

AJ: I coudn’t get mad. That felt like it just wasn’t being understanding. Even when I met Manny Pacquiao, he got mad at me for not speaking Tagalog. He goes, “How can your mother not teach you Tagalog?” I don’t think he knew our history, so I couldn’t get mad. And I couldn’t get mad because it’s Manny Pacquiao (laughs)!

I also think that he represents Filipinos in the Philippines, and they might think that way too. He has his own opinions, but he was teaching me a little bit. Now I eat with a fork and spoon, I used to never do that. That was one of my first lessons with him. He told me, “Ana, if you’re going to eat, eat with a spoon.” And I watched him and I started doing it.

During the fight with Lisa Brown, they wanted to stop the fight, I said no. I don’t want to go down in history as the one who didn’t get to finish a fight. I feel like that. If there’s a gap between two cultures or two opinions, there’s only one way to connect it, and that is to communicate.

SCB: Was there ever a point that you wanted to stop boxing?

AJ: Many times. It’s very hard, but I have a very good team, my family supports me, and the Filipino community is just reaching out to me. When people embrace me, and I feel like I hold them up, especially now that my fights are being televised and there’s a lot of people taking an interest in me.

SCB: How do you handle the pressure? You’re not just representing Filipinos, but also women.

AJ: There was a point where it was too much, and it stressed me out. For this last fight, I was talking to Freddie Roach, and I asked him, “This is a big event, this is the biggest stage for me, this is going to be televised all over the world and a lot of people are watching, and my opponents want to hurt me! How do you deal with it?”

Because Freddie Roach is dealing with the public all the time, and it’s so funny because he makes it so simple. He tells me, “Just don’t let it bother you.” And then he walks away (laughs)! I felt like I was talking to a kung fu master. You know how they always have very few words?

It took me about a day, a day and a half, to think on it, and realize that it’s only as big as I make it. I just need to take it for what it is. My main goal is to fight, and that is where my main focus should be. I just have my energy focused on just fighting.

SCB: How is Freddie Roach as a trainer? As a coach?

AJ: He’s excellent. He’s been like a father to me. Whenever I talk to him, when I ask him to explain things to me, I get it, he means this. He loves the sport. He’s Freddie Roach. He’s so big time! He understands it and he’s so down to earth. He will take the time. He’s so good in communication. He can say a couple of things and you will get it instantly. I think that’s what makes him the best trainer of the year for the past four years.

When you’re in that corner and you have blood streaming on your face, your eyes shut down, you could look at him and you could trust him to say things to you that will stick in your head. Even if you’re tired, you just listen to what he says and you just do it.

Look at Manny Pacquiao, knocked out Hatton on the second round right? It looks so difficult, he makes it so easy. Freddie is a true teacher.

SCB: What was it like to visit your hometown for the very first time?

AJ: It was very breathtaking, very emotional. I’m looking at everyone and they’re like my skin color. They all look like me. It’s such a groundbreaking experience for me, I still have to process everything. I’m still in awe, especially after seeing Amang Pedring, my grandfather, the brother of my grandfather, for the first time. He was the kuya of my grandpa and he looks just like my grandfather. My grandfather has already passed away so I was trying to hold it in with everyone around me. But it was beautiful!

SCB: Are there Filipino dishes that you tried for the first time?

AJ: I don’t know their names (laughs).

SCB: You could describe them.

AJ: I had adobong pusit. Oh man! I was looking at it and I was like, I don’t know. But I tried it and it’s really good. I tried balut. I guess some people were saying that they can tell that was my first time because I ate the bone. And you’re not supposed to eat the bone, right? It’s like cartilage. I ate that whole thing. It’s not bad actually. I was a little scared. Everyone was saying, just eat the yellow part.

SCB: Did you eat the chick?

AJ: Yeah! I was like, you know, it didn’t have hair yet (laughs). One of my favorites is sapin-sapin. I had to eat a real one because in America it’s a little different. It was so good I can’t stop!

SCB: You’re dead. Patay ka kay Freddie Roach.

AJ: (laughs) I got to train as soon as I get back.

SCB: Coming here, did you have any expectations?

AJ: I’ve always wanted to come but I wanted to make sure it’s at the right moment. The GMA Network really helped me with that. What to expect? I didn’t know what to expect. I was just scared. I didn’t know how to respond to a new country, especially since I can’t speak the language. So far, it’s been like a second home. It’s kinda weird, you don’t know anyone but everyone is so welcoming. In the States sometimes we could be very cold (laughs). Here, everyone is embracing. Everyone wants to help you. I think it will be nice if we can bring that overseas, to have that kind of outlook. I think the world will be more warm or more welcome. Overall it’s been amazing.

SCB: When you were younger, what was your plan?

AJ: I stayed with martial arts, sports. I went to college and I was trying to get a degree in Kinesiology. I wanted to work with people. But I ended up becoming a teacher at a martial arts school. Then I got into boxing. It’s all by chance. I can’t explain it.

SCB: You teach kids?

AJ: Opo. Kids, teenagers, girls, just to build their confidence. Help them to become more aware in a self-defense situation.

SCB: You’re still teaching?

AJ: Hindi na po. I stopped during my second world title, towards the end of last year. When I fought (Kelsey) Jeffries for my first world title, the IBA World Title, I was juggling with training twice a day and teaching, and trying to sleep and eat, and do everything else.

SCB: When you started boxing, did people start looking at you differently? Especially the guys....

AJ: They have their own opinions, and again I can’t get mad, I can’t get personal. It’s different. When I was in Wild Card training, I had my nails painted and it had glitter (laughs). I was stretching and this really big guy goes over to me and says something derogatory. He says “What the @#*& is that girly #@&*?” I was thinking, “Just because I’m a girl, you feel like you have the right to say that to me?” I turned around and said “It’s world championship @#&*!”

Sometimes I feel like me being Filipina and a boxer, people think I can be easily pushed over. I smile a lot, I don’t like having arguments. Even my opponents feel like I’m a pushover, until I start talking or punching them. I feel like that’s the nature of all the Filipinos.

When I first came here, everyone was genuinely nice. And I think some people probably see that as a form of weakness, which I don’t appreciate. But I also know that we Filipinos, we don’t take that. We also know the limit, the line, and we can stand up for ourselves. Just like Lapu-Lapu and Magellan. He was like “No!” (laughs).

SCB: So did the guy answer back?

AJ: His friend said “Good answer!” I said, “Heck yeah, it’s a good answer!” Then I just walked away.

Most of the promoters didn’t necessarily support women’s boxing. When I was an amateur, I didn’t have the opportunity to go to the Olympics. In 2012, we’re going to have the Olympics for female boxers. Hopefully, the Philippines will have its first gold medal. I hear that a lot of the amateur Filipina boxers are really great. I think it would be really neat if the first gold medal of the Philippines comes from a Pinay in boxing. That’s groundbreaking. Out of all sports, you see a lot of women do track, but for boxing? Wow, that’s big!

SCB: Have you ever been in a fight outside of the ring?

AJ: Just mental fights (laughs). Just talking (laughs).

SCB: You have a really long hair. How long have you had it?

AJ: Ten years. I like it all the way up to here (points to feet).

SCB: Seriously?

AJ: That’s why I don’t cut it.

SCB: You’ll step on your hair.

AJ: I’ll go in the ring with hair that long (laughs). My hair used to be really short. I got mad one day. I hated guys (laughs). I said, they’re so mean. So I cut my hair and kept it that way. I hated them even more (laughs). I was going through something. But then I relaxed and learned from it. And then I just let it grow.

SCB: Is it because you wanna look girly?

AJ: I like it. I used to read comic books too and some of the girl characters always have long hair. You know She? She has long hair. Wonder Woman has long hair, Catwoman has long hair. It’s really cool!

SCB: So you don’t plan to cut your hair?

AJ: No. Maybe if I look really old, like 70. Maybe short hair, and then I dye it.

SCB: Aside from boxing, are there other things you enjoy?

AJ: Taking walks, sightseeing, shopping. I love eating. I like reading.

SCB: Do you plan to get a Philippine passport?

AJ: I don’t know the legalities to it.

SCB: But you can get dual citizenship.

AJ: Can I? Both my parents are from here!

SCB: Do guys get intimidated?

AJ: I don’t talk to guys like that. I guess since we don’t talk about it, they’re probably intimidated (laughs). They just wanna say hi and be my friend. But for me, I think I’m more of a fighter than a lover. I just like to stay focused on the fight game because there’s so much damage that can happen, even before the fight, when you’re sparring, stuff like that. Even Freddie, before my last fight, there’s a couple of mid-sessions. He throws shoulders at me, he gets rough with me, and I was like, Freddie Roach is beating me up (laughs). It’s not easy.

SCB: So you have to sacrifice your love life?

AJ: Opo. But I don’t take any of it away because I figured I have the rest of my life to see, to find my soulmate.

SCB: When you’re inside the ring, what goes through your mind?

AJ: (laughs) I try to focus, to look for the openings. I try to get a feel of my opponent. Are they scared, are they cocky. And then words get in my head. I’m faster than you, you can’t hurt me, things like that just to get me excited. Sometimes I like to feel emotions.

How my opponent feels, I could feel the audience. Sometimes when the commentators say, you should only focus on the fight, I feel like as a fighter, you should be aware of your surroundings, just to know where everything is.

SCB: How can you get excited in that situation?

AJ: I don’t know. Probably the competitive side. I think that’s embedded in all Filipinos. We like to win.