Julien Sales-Halbergsen

Julien Sales-Halbergsen (10 November 1984), Munich, Federal Republic of Germany. Born Jurgen (Jorge) Johannes Dominick Julien Villaco-Cojuangco Sales-Halbergsen de Cabela, was a former junior tennis player for Argentina and the Philippines between 1993-2000; Former host of "Lakbayan" (a Philippine travel series, 2004-2006). Sales-Halbergsen is part of the "Privilegios", according to The Philippine Daily Inquirer [http://www.inquirer.net/] in 2005. Sales-Halbergsen is part of the mestizo, Tornatrás (Eurasian) ruling class.

Biography

Julien Sales-Halbergsen is the son of Argentine businessman (and former diplomat), Jurgen Viktor Zobel Sales-Halbergsen de Cabela, and Maria Julianna Villaco-Cojuangco. According to government reports, Julien Sales-Halbergsen is a relative of every Philippine president except for three: Emilio Aguinaldo, Ramon Magsaysay, and Joseph Estrada . His mother is the first cousin of Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, and his uncle (by marriage) is the nephew of the former Prime Minister Salvador Laurel. In addition, Sales-Halbergsen is a 3rd cousin of the Lopez Family Branch (Also known as Arroyo, by Marriage), and therefore is an in-law of current President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and former President Diosdado P. Macapagal. Sales-Halbergsen's god-father is his 2nd uncle, former President Fidel V. Ramos. His paternal aunt, is married to Don Felipe Marcos, half brother of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Career

Competitive tennis

Junior tennis player for the Republic of the Philippines, and Argentina 1993-2000. Retired after a series of injuries, and a skiing accident in 2000. Attempted a comeback in 2003, only to fall 7-18 that year (win-loss record), and effectively decided to abandon the sport. In 2005, Sales-Halbergsen was ruled ineligible for induction in the Philippine Tennis Hall of Fame after questions about citizenship were presented.

*Wunderkind (Article from 12 April 1997 National Daily Tribune), by: Chito Galvan

It is a wonder how the win streak of the wunderkind can end, but as quickly as he is building them, just as quickly have can they end. At the tender age of 14, the country's reigning number one player and tennis champion is a testament to the lack of funding sports has in the country. While Japan boasts of players in the professional tour along with a band of up and coming juniors, the only thing we have to counter with is Julien Sales-Halbergsen. Not even a Filipino at birth, not even 50% Filipino, he has become the face of tennis. Our country is so lacking in athletic funding that kids like Sales-Halbergsen arrive fresh off the airport tarmac to dominate here where they fail to even show up on the radar in their home countries. Backed by Germanic genes, European mentality, and self-confidence unheard of, this child brings a soap-opera list of acting hyjinxes and actors when he plays his matches. So perfectly did he arrive in 1994 as the ultimate underdog in the National Championships held in Subic Bay, he blitzed through to the quarter-finals a lanky 11 year-old whose tongue was as sharpe as his forehand to beat three opponents aged 17-18 without a set lost. He is an ungracious player, often chewing gum, fiddling with his racquet, and yelping at his opponent's mistakes; he was even more ungracious as a winner, literally skipping his way to the net with a wide grin clapping his hands and humming as if to rub it in. In the quarter-finals of San Fernando 94 Nationals, his childish grunts, racquet throwing, screaming, yelling, and stares at his coach (and father) did little to help him in a trashing by the eventual champion of that year (Gabriel Montiz), on national television the 11 year-old burst into tears and refused to shake hands at net. The boy was not rattled nor intimidated by his loss, his tears were as he says it, "because I could have won!". The following 1995 season, a rematch would ensue in November, wherein Mortiz at 18, in his final year as a junior would be decimated 6–4,6–4 at the National Championships Semi-Finals in Manila, by the 11 year old small wonder who went on to win the title. When a reporter asked how an eleven year old could do such damage, Sales-Halbergsen threw a tantrum. When asked why he refused to answer the question, he snapped, "I'm not eleven, I am eleven and a half!". Such is the dance with reporters, with such utter disrespect. He however possessed a charisma uniquely of his own that made publications want more; and a soap-operalike family background just as unique. The nephew of former President Aquino, Grand-Nephew of former President Laurel, god-son of current President Ramos is anything but short of economic and motivational backing, unlike his contemporaries. One might think that this extraordinary maternal-pedigree is what fuels this boy to reach for the top. His father is a fighter pilot for the Argentine Air Force who fought with the British during the Falklands War, and a successful businessman of German-Jewish background. If he gets his desire to be on top from his mother's side, he gets his guts to win from his father's side. In October 1996, Sales-Halbergsen who once scoffed at grass courts as "a place to graze cows", after never winning a match at a grass court event after 3 attempts, defended his National title on grass with surgical precision, defeating his cousin Etienne Sales-Halbergsen in the final. What of other players? his twelve year old cousin whom he contested the national title with spoke ill of the no.1 player before the final, as if a boxing match E.S-H. said "I will make him eat grass" of J.S-H. The no.1 quickly countered by saying "I will eat grass? I am not vegetarian!". J.S-H. made such quick work of the no.2 cousin that the match seemed over before it had begun. The hype that was built up was a big fluke as a 6–1,6–2 thrashing ensued in 27 minutes. The wunderkind has already set records, as we speak he is the longest consecutive no.1 ranked player since 1977 passing the two year mark. He will be defending his 1995 and 1996 titles this November on a hard court; if he wins he will be the first player ever to win on three different surfaces, and will be the first player since 1982 to win three consecutive national tennis titles, and the youngest to do so at age fourteen. His competition, almostnon-existent! but fast on his heels is Philippine no.2 Etienne Sales-Halbergsen an introverted player who has the personality of a macaroni noodle, he knows J.S-H.'s game better than anyone. Then no.3, the 15 year-old Juan Carlos Madrigal, the eldest of the three, with a financial backing just as large as the two Sales-Halbergsens, with genetics of European origin, but the mental fortitude of as J.S-H. puts it "thinks like an abandoned gold mine", referring to Madrigal's tendency to cave in to pressure. Gabriel Montiz no longer age-qualified for juniors play has placed his bet on his successor to win a third consecutive, but said, "Had I had German blood, and parents with a pocket full of money, I would have won three consecutive titles too". Typically, after hearing of this remark from Montiz, J.S-H. responded quickly by saying the smartest thing he has ever said, "Its not all genetics, it's not all about funding, its all about hard-work, its about your love of the game and your heart & soul pured into it, (with every match) I always ask myself how much I want it!" as if the world had changed, the J.S-H. we know and love came back to us and followed his statement with, "... Sound slike a sore loser to me!". Good going wunderkind! The country is waiting for your match, specifically:your post-match conference.

Data provided by Philippine Tennis Association, Page Edited by: Dep't of Education, Culture, and Sports

Media career

Former host of "Lakbayan" (a weekly Philippine travel series, 2004-2006). Following the footsteps of his elder brother, and former host of the forementioned show (JM Sales-Halbergsen, 2003-2004), Sales-Halbergsen traveled throughout East Asia and Oceania logging in 200 Hours of television time in a course of two years. A Journalism major at the Ateneo De Manila University, Sales-Halbergsen was hand-picked by a board of directors to showcase adventure/eco tourism in the region. The show rated within the top 2 (no. 1 for several months) in its time slot (Wednesday evenings 10pm-11pm) from May 2004 through December 2005. In January of 2006, the show began a downward spiral when network executives changed the theme into "local/regional party scenes". Sales-Halbergsen had conflicting schedules because of his schooling in the United States by August of 2005. In December of 2005 (in the span of 21 days), Sales-Halbergsen went to 20 different countries to film 20 episodes for the first half of 2006. By May of 2006, affected by the new theme of the show, a new timeslot (Sunday evenings 6pm-7pm) that resulted in a drop in ratings to no. 15, and traveling across the Pacific every month; Sales-Halbergsen issued an effective resignation one day ahead of being fired by the network managers, resulting in the demise of the series.

While hosting "Lakbayan", Sales-Halbergsen also contributed articles to the now defunct MH-18 (Men's Health 18 Magazine), his main article focus are nutrition, and supplement research. From 2004-2005, Sales-Halbergsen published an article in 19 of 20 issues of the magazine. In 2006, after the MH-18 series was scrapped, Sales-Halbergsen was hired by Men's Health Filipinas as nutrition consultant.

From 2004-2006, Sales-Halbergsen also worked as Fashion Week Correspondent for Inquirer News during the Philippine Fashion Week, Tokyo Spring Fashion Week, Hong Kong Fashion Festival, and The Fashion Week Italia in both Milan and Rome.

In 2005, Julien Sales-Halbergsen co-authored, "Biyaheng Pangdaigdig, Biyahe ng Panunuklas" (English translation: "A World of Travels & Discoveries"), a graphic journal of the author's travels, with brother JM Sales-Halbergsen. In 2006: JJ (journalist), JM (a lawyer), and JV (a doctor) co-authored "Recipes of the Metro Jungle", a book of recipes conjured up by the trio for Men's Health Philippines (limited release to Metro Manila).

"Privilegios"

In the summer of 2005, Julien Sales-Halbergsen (commonly referred to as JJ by his peers) was dubbed as "Privilegio" (English translation: Privileged). According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Countdown, JJ Sales-Halbergsen placed 10th overall, while cousins' Gabriela Sales-Toledo, and Borgy Marcos-Manotoc place 4th and 5th respectively.

The moniker was coined by the Philippine Daily Inquirer to highlight the lives of the country's heirs and heiresses; It was then picked up by Philippine high society magazine, The Philippine Tatler [http://www.philtatler.com/ptwww/home.htm] . A media frenzy evolved resulting high-profile tabloid incidents, including Sales-Halbergsen firing a paintball gun at close range to a photographer who was standing on his hotel balcony. The incident was soon followed by Borgy Marcos' running over another photographer.

The ensuing frenzy for an inside look into the lives of the "Privilegios" resulted in the departure of most of them. Media hype was nearing Paris Hilton/Princess Diana levels. The result was a congressional act banning any magazine to take photographs of the Privilegios while attending school without consent. The case was appealed at the Supreme Court of the Philippines which upheld the freedom of speech of the publications, however the Supreme Court did imply that any jurisdiction outside the Philippine area of responsibility was off limits to photographers. Seven out of ten Privilegios left the country: KC Concepcion (daughter of television star Sharon Cuneta, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan) left the Philippines to study in France's Sorbonne University; Borgy Marcos-Manotoc decided to take time off in New York; Robin Nievera decided to take a long vacation in Hawai'i; and Julien Sales-Halbergsen left for California to continue his studies.

The Privilegio-Mania went on from the Summer of 2005 through the Summer of 2006. Coincidentally, a recent return of the privilegios have sparked the mania again. In the Winter of 2006 through Summer of 2007, Privilegio spottings in public were at an all time high. KC Concepcion has come back to the Philippines to pursue a career in entertainment after 2 years in France. Robin Nievera has done the same for his music, following the lead of Borgy Marcos-Manotoc who came back in Winter 2006 to host his own show. Gabriela Sales-Toledo has been a constant "balikbayan" featured in the social pages of the Philippine Tatler. Julien Sales-Halbergsen took some time off from his studies in the US and vacation in the posh Boracay Pan Pacific Pearl Hotel for a week and compete in the Boracay Classic Surfing Comeptition.

Marriage and children

Sales-Halbergsen is believed to father a son to an Italian national; but this report has neither been denied nor acknowledged by the family's office. The child, named Jurgen Kameron Kaizer Nikolas Marzzaco is now 4 years old and resides with his mother in Italy. The child is reported to have been a product of Sales-Halbergsen's summer internship in Milan in 2002.