Family has always been important to Django. He has two children, 17-year-old Michael and 13-year-old Gene Rose from two previous relationships. But Django now comes home to Milagros, whom he met in Germany, and their three-year-old son Francisco, Jr. But it was their other child, then eight-month-old Marielle, whom the world would tragically know about.
Last July, Django had flown to Cardiff to take part in the gem among the sport's tournaments, the World Pool Championships. Back home, something went terribly wrong. On July 17, Milagros brought Marielle to the hospital because the baby had a fever. The doctors said the baby was fine. The next day, Milagros brought the baby back because the child looked pale and they soon found that Marielle had a viral blood infection, one that was worse than meningitis. The baby was given a 50-50 chance of survival. Django, who phoned home every day, was shaken by the news and prepared to return home as soon as he could although he was doing well in the tournament, making the top 16.
But the next day, July 19, Marielle succumbed to the infection. At 3 p.m. in Cardiff, Django got the terrible news. "I was stunned. I didn't want to go on with the matches because I wasn't in any condition to play."
But Milagros told Django to go on. "I decided to continue playing, dedicating the tournament to my baby." Django felt that Marielle was with him in those waning days in Wales. "Even when I was about to lose, I would still win. It was because of her." An emotional final match had Django ahead of Strickland, but for a crucial scratch, yet Django emerged from the World Championship the fans' favorite if not a titleholder. "That was the most difficult match of my career," he confesses. "It was also my most painful loss ever."
He returned to the country immediately after and straight to the Pasay funeral home where Marielle's wake was being held. It was in front of his baby's tiny casket that Django, known for his emotionless game face, finally broke down. "She was my favorite baby," he recalls. "Marielle was very energetic and liked to laugh and play with me. It was really painful because she was still all right when I left. And then, she was gone."
He almost didn't have any time to mourn because then it was off to another match, this time in the US. "It was hard to leave because of what I had just gone through but what can I do? This is all I do and if I don't go, it'll destroy my career. How will I help my family then?"
Django did receive a boost when he was designated flag-bearer of the Philippine team to the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. "I was surprised because I really wasn't counting on it. I felt that there were others who were more worthy. But I was really honored," he explains. Django continued his hot streak, winning his first Asiad gold in the billiard doubles together with Antonio Lining. "And it was my first time to take part in the Asian Games." In November, he continued to be dominant, winning the 35th All-Japan Championship in Osaka.
In a game of angles and bounces, the past year was especially crazy. Django says that 2002 was his most successful year ever, as he won seven times. "I'm proud of that but it's painful because the price I had to pay was my baby." The life of a traveling pro continues to be quite a grind. "I spend most of my year in Europe or America and when I come home, it's usually only for a month." But this time, he gets to be with his family as Milagros and Junior will be with him in Germany. "This life is hard because you have to go away, and, if your shot is off, you won't make any money." Yet this nine-ball ninja has no plans to stop his wandering ways after 26 years of pool. "Maybe I'll stop and run a business someday, but right now, this is the only life I know."
Then, as he has done countless times before, Django Bustamante bids farewell and leaves. He has a match in three hours.
