“Learn how to sacrifice and never forget God.”
THIS is the message of 2018 Asian Games silver medalist Rogen Ladon to fellow Bagonhons, especially aspiring boxers and other athletes in the city, during the hero’s welcome organized by the City Government of Bago on Monday.
The 24-year-old boxing pride of Bago City settled for a silver medal in the men’s flyweight division after losing to Uzbekistan Jasurbek Latipov in a referee-stopped-contest at the Jakarta International Expo in Indonesia last September 1.
He gave the Philippines its second silver in the continental competition.
The country was also able to bag four gold medals and 15 bronzes placing it 19th in the overall ranking.
Ladon first visited his alma mater Lag-asan Elementary School in Barangay Lag-Asan, where he was greeted with smiles and warm embraces by the students and his former teachers.
In a ceremony at the Bantayan Park in Barangay Poblacion, the city government led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod presented a resolution congratulating Ladon for his outstanding performance and honor he has given to the city and country as well.
Ladon received P50, 000 in incentives from the city government while his coach Nolito “Boboy” Velasco was given P10, 000 also as an incentive.
“I am very happy to be back in my hometown with such warm welcome given by the city government and fellow Bagonhons,” Ladon said, adding that
“winning the silver medal the Asian Games is a blessing from God.”
Prior to this achievement, the Negrense boxer bagged the silver medal in the light flyweight category of the 2015 Southeast Asian Games held in Singapore.
In 2016, Ladon was added to the gallery of Olympians in the field of boxing as he qualified in the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Ladon said he is eyeing to bring home another win in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The boxer, moreover, urged fellow athletes in the city to continue working hard in achieving their dreams.
“They should learn how to sacrifice in order to achieve every goal in life they set, whether in boxing or in other sports,” he said, adding that “it is also important not to forget God in everything they do.”
For his part, Yulo said the activity is the city government’s way of appreciating the sacrifices of Ladon whom they considered as the new hometown hero.
Yulo said they want Ladon’s success to become an inspiration to the youth, especially those aspiring to follow in his footsteps and will also become the city’s future heroes.
“No success can be done overnight. There are lots of pains and sacrifices to go through before attaining victory,” he said, adding that “we want our youth to follow the values shown us by Rogen.”