Limpag: PNG success stories

MY favorite stories in this hectic week of triumphs and gold medals are those involving extraordinary courage. And perhaps, it’s quite curious that most involve women. There was that single mother who won the first gold and that determined daughter of a hard-working man who took on three jobs, who won Cebu City’s first gold.

In a revealing social media post, Hidilyn Diaz, our Olympic silver medalist in 2016, shared that in the 2014 PNG, she had difficulty completing a lift and people began doubting her. Now, she won the gold again and she is hoping that those whom she competed against would be inspired to test their limits.

Karatedo saw Davao City’s Rexor Tacay winning his quarterfinal match despite suffering a suspected ACL. He didn’t compete in the semis and was sobbing as he won’t be able to defend his gold medal.

Eventually, he was consoled when he was assured that he’d get to represent the country in the Asian Games. After some tests and recovery time, of course.

Let’s not forget Cebu City, the co-host; they have their own success stories, too. The gold medals in track and field, 12 as of Thursday, came as a surprise even to their coach.

Of all the officials involved in Cebu City’s sports program, none was happier than CCSC Chairman Edward Hayco, who said that the Cebu City athletes are the volunteer coaches of their grassroots program. It’s something he started with dancesport two decades back and has adopted with CCSC.

Chairman Hayco has been promoting volunteerism ever since CCSC started their summer grassroots program and I know some of the athletes have taken to it grudgingly. It’s great that in this year’s PNG, when they got to practice what they preached, it paid dividends. Focus on value formation; the medals and victories, if they come, will just be a bonus.

Even though she didn’t win any medal, that poor Lapu-Lapu lass who was forced to join the 3,000-meter steeplechase and got laughed at for the way she gingerly stepped over the hurdle deserved to be praised for her courage. When an official told her that she was supposed to join the steeplechase, an event she wasn’t trained for, she finished it. The result? She got laughed at.

I think most of those who laughed at her wouldn’t be able to complete one loop of the oval in a competitive setting, how much more joining the steeplechase without any formal training.

And, of course, it’s not only the athletes who have their own success stories. There are the organizers and hundreds of volunteers—from the officials, doctors, record-keepers, drivers and what have you.

Remember, there are more than 3,000 athletes for the PNG and for each event, there are scores of officials involved, making sure everything runs smoothly.

Lastly, of course, are those who will go home empty-handed, for now. What makes them a success story? Well, competing in the PNG, against the best of the country, including members of the national team, is no easy feat.

Their failure to win a medal will only be a real failure if they don’t learn from it. Look at what Hidilyn Diaz achieved ever since she faced her doubts in 2014.

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