Rudy Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Fernandez commonly known as Rudy and referred as the "Iron Man of Asia", is a multi-awarded, one-legged Filipino
triathlete
who had finished a degree in Physical Education at the University of Baguio.
, swimming
and cycling
, and prides himself in always finishing the race despite the obvious handicap. He was a participant in an athletic competition in early 2005 held in Singapore
.
In 1996, Fernandez attracted attention by swimming from Guimaras
to Iloilo, beating Terry Fox
's record.
Fernandez became torchbearer for two multi-sport events: the 2001 SEA Games
, and the Palarong Pambansa 2005 (Philippine National Games). Currently he is supporting a charity that supports youth, especially those with physical disabilities and the differently-abled. This became his inspiration in joining Pinoy Big Brother
.
's Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition
.
He was called "Tatay Rudy" by the housemates as he was the father figure of the other housemates. Big Brother and the fans refer to him as "Mang Rudy," out of their respect for his status and age. He was the oldest contestant, both in the Celebrity edition and in Pinoy Big Brother history. He was the first housemate to be officially evicted from the house on Day 21 (February 25, 2006). When he left, he gave away key chains to his fellow housemates as tokens of remembrance.
While in the house, the housemate he was most comfortable with was Gretchen Malalad
and Mich Dulce
. Fellow housemate Zanjoe Marudo
had made a trademark quote on him saying, "Ang Iron Man, nag-joke na naman" (The Iron Man is joking again) because of the corny jokes Rudy cracks while laughing to himself. Rudy has also given good advice to the other housemates before he left the house.
on 1978 which also cost the life of his brother-in-law. He began using a mechanical hydraulic prosthetic leg in the 1980s.
Fernandez is married to Melba, a midwife, with whom they have three sons, the first names of which all end in "itz." He teaches physical education at the Western Institute of Technology
in Iloilo City
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
triathlete
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
who had finished a degree in Physical Education at the University of Baguio.
Sports career
Fernandez had competed in runningRunning
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and prides himself in always finishing the race despite the obvious handicap. He was a participant in an athletic competition in early 2005 held in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
In 1996, Fernandez attracted attention by swimming from Guimaras
Guimaras
Guimaras is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros...
to Iloilo, beating Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
's record.
Fernandez became torchbearer for two multi-sport events: the 2001 SEA Games
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...
, and the Palarong Pambansa 2005 (Philippine National Games). Currently he is supporting a charity that supports youth, especially those with physical disabilities and the differently-abled. This became his inspiration in joining Pinoy Big Brother
Pinoy Big Brother
Pinoy Big Brother is the Philippine version of the reality television show Big Brother . It follows the same premise as its many foreign counterparts around the world: twelve Philippine residents are forced to live with each other inside a house for about 3 months or at least 100 days...
.
Pinoy Big Brother
Fernandez was a housemate of ABS-CBNABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
's Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition
Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition
The first celebrity edition of Pinoy Big Brother, titled Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition is a special edition of the original show...
.
He was called "Tatay Rudy" by the housemates as he was the father figure of the other housemates. Big Brother and the fans refer to him as "Mang Rudy," out of their respect for his status and age. He was the oldest contestant, both in the Celebrity edition and in Pinoy Big Brother history. He was the first housemate to be officially evicted from the house on Day 21 (February 25, 2006). When he left, he gave away key chains to his fellow housemates as tokens of remembrance.
While in the house, the housemate he was most comfortable with was Gretchen Malalad
Gretchen Malalad
Gretchen Malalad is a Filipina 2005 Southeast Asian Games karate gold medalist and a former beauty pageant contestant in Binibining Pilipinas 2002 where she emerged Ms. Talent and Ms. Red Bull Supreme. She was also a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition...
and Mich Dulce
Mich Dulce
Mich Dulce is a Filipina fashion designer, milliner, corsetiere, actress and vocalist of bands Death By Tampon and Us-2 Evil-0.She graduated from the Poveda Learning Center in Quezon City Mich Dulce (born Michelle Dianne Lopez Dulce on May 8, 1981) is a Filipina fashion designer, milliner,...
. Fellow housemate Zanjoe Marudo
Zanjoe Marudo
Zanjoe Acuesta Marudo is a Filipino actor and model. He was former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition and became one of the Big Four along with Bianca Gonzalez, John Prats, and the big winner Keanna Reeves....
had made a trademark quote on him saying, "Ang Iron Man, nag-joke na naman" (The Iron Man is joking again) because of the corny jokes Rudy cracks while laughing to himself. Rudy has also given good advice to the other housemates before he left the house.
Personal life
Fernandez had an amputation at the thigh of his right leg. The amputation was due to a bomb explosion in the Alegro Theater from his hometown in IloiloIloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
on 1978 which also cost the life of his brother-in-law. He began using a mechanical hydraulic prosthetic leg in the 1980s.
Fernandez is married to Melba, a midwife, with whom they have three sons, the first names of which all end in "itz." He teaches physical education at the Western Institute of Technology
Western Institute of Technology
-External links:*...
in Iloilo City
Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
.