‘Super Marna' remains in fighting mood

WINNING two golds, a silver and a bronze for the country in the South East Asian Games (Seag) spiked with a silver in the much tougher Asian Games, Cagayan de Oro pride Ma. Marna Pabillore is no doubt an accomplished athlete.

And at 29 years old, she may well be better to rest on her laurels.

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But not for now.

The country's lone gold-taker in karatedo event of the 25th Seag in Vientiane, Laos won't refrain herself from competing in this year's Asian Games in China some time in November.

Pabillore, who was presented on Monday's flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall, said her ailing mother will be her inspiration in the forthcoming Asian Games.

The bemedalled karateka, who was warmly congratulated by Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula for her exemplary feat, said her mother's condition was foremost in her mind when she decided to keep on fighting.

"I know that her medication bills won't be cheap that I have to go with the China trip. Of course, at my age I already think about retirement," Pabillore told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. "I really wanted to retire but I badly needed to continue for mama's sake."

Mayor Jaraula said Pabillore is an epitome of a model athlete worth to be emulated by the youth.

"Garbo nato kini siya sa siyudad nga angay'ng ampingan ug suportahan," Jaraula said.

Pabillore's gold finish in Laos meet had eventually erased the stigma brought by her heartbreaking loss to Japanese world champion Tomoko Araga in the women's Kumite Finals of the 2006 Doha, Qatar Asian Games.