SHE grew up in the United States and her command of Filipino is limited, quite unlike her fighting style. But don?t ever presume that she?d be as squeamish as most foreigners about trying that local delicacy, balut.

World female boxing titleholder Ana ?Hurricane? Julaton gamely obliged when the hosts of a morning television show offered her the Pinoy street snack of unhatched fertilized duck egg.

?I have no problem eating balut,? Julaton later told a group of select sportswriters. ?Eating is the least of my worries.?

But balut may just be one indication that this transplanted native remains Filipino at heart. Despite her iron physique, the lady champ admits to getting teary-eyed whenever she hears ?Lupang Hinirang.?

?I hardly speak Tagalog, but I become emotional whenever I hear the national anthem,? said Julaton, who vowed to expand her vocabulary beyond the usual po, opo and hindi po.

Julaton thrilled Filipino fans during her recent five-day visit to the Philippines, which included a trip to Pozorrubio, Pangasinan where she traces her roots.

Mobbed by her townmates, the boxer rubbed shoulders with top government officials and met her uncle Amang Pedring, brother of her deceased father, Cesar.

?It?s amazing. It?s my first time here and everything is just beautiful,? Julaton said. ?When he was alive, my father told me about this place and his relatives.?

Julaton grew up in Daly City, California but could not help but feel at home as the locals asked for autographs and the chance to be photographed with her.

?This is like family. This [visit] is the most memorable thing that has happened to me so far,? Julaton told Inquirer correspondent Gabriel Cardinoza.

The boxer?s visit created quite a stir in the national sporting scene. Dubbed as the female equivalent of Manny Pacquiao, Julaton also trains under Pacquiao trainer and Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

?Everybody is funny and engaging and I want to honor this beautiful country by having my next fight here,? said Julaton.

Despite having only 10 professional fights ? 7 wins (1 KO), 2 losses and 1 draw ? Julaton recently reclaimed the WBO super-bantamweight title by surviving Mexican kamikaze Maria Elena Villalobos last June 30 at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.

That victory erased the painful memory of her loss by unanimous decision last March to Liza Brown for the WBA super bantamweight crown.

Angelo Reyes, Julaton?s manager, said his ward liked to be active and is determined to fight in front of a Filipino audience. ?She really wishes that her next fight would be held here in September. She doesn?t want to have a long layoff from tough competitions because when she gets mad, she punches real hard,? said Reyes who added that promoters are considering a rematch with Villalobos or a title fight against reigning WBC queen Marcela Acuña of Argentina.

Before winning the WBO diadem, Julaton also reigned in the IBA super bantamweight class after besting Kelsey Jeffries in September 2009.

She also beat Donna Biggers at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California for the WBO super bantamweight plum on December 4 last year.

?When it comes to prized fighting, Ana is relatively new. But she has evolved into a box-office draw in the world of women?s boxing,? said Reyes.

If the Julaton fight pushes through, expect the 5-foot-5 firecracker to again wear her fighting jerseys emblazoned with big, bold letters spelling out ?Bonifacio,? the hero of the Filipino working class. It is also her full name: Luciana Bonifacio Julaton, taken from her mother?s maiden name.

Now that?s more than enough reason for The Hurricane to prove true to her Filipino roots. ?