SOME of the country's top-rated athletes, the likes of Tokyo Olympics-bound Irish Magno, Aiba Women's World Boxing Championships 2019 gold medalist Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, Rio Olympian Mary Joy Tabal, and World Sambo Championships 2020 bronze medalist Sydney Sy Tancontian, are elated to be celebrating Christmas with their families over simple dinners and wishing that the pandemic will soon come to an end.
Magno, who is currently in Iloilo, said, "Sa Christmas po kasama ko family ko, wish ko syempre po healthy and long life lang po kami. Sana matapos na po lahat ng pinagdadaanan nating lahat (I will be with my family this Christmas and I wish that we all stay healthy. I hope what we are going through now will be over)."
Her national women's boxing teammate Petecio, for her part, said she will be with her loved ones during the holidays. She hopes that God will always protect her family.
"And sana matapos na lahat ng nangyayari ngayong taon na to. Para sa susunod na taon puro happiness naman po mangyari (When all the things that happened this year are over, we can only have happiness in the new year)," Petecio, who is in her home province Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, said in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao.
Cebu City-based Tabal, meanwhile, wishes to be able to compete again along with the rest of the Filipino athletes.
She said, "Sports unites the world and hoping and wishing that we will be able to feel being normal again and celebrate. Hoping tomorrow we all gonna laugh together, overcoming everything will mean a better version of ourselves. I also wish and pray for continuous opportunities for everyone and for our country and that we will be and stay united with one goal and that is to make a better Philippines. Let’s keep praying!"
Tancontian, on the other hand, has since been with her family in Davao City before and after she competed in the World Sambo Championships 2020 in Novi Sad, Serbia in November 2020. "My Christmas wish po is sana unti-unting bumalik na po sa normal lahat (everything slowly goes back to normal). I wish everyone can still find positivity and inspiration despite the situation. And stay safe everyone," the University of Santo Tomas judo varsity scholar said.
World Para Swimming Series 2019 champion Ernie Gawilan, who is currently residing at the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), said he will be spending Christmas with his friends at home as it is still not safe to be outdoors. He thanked Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez for not abandoning the athletes since the pandemic struck and that they can celebrate Christmas with the financial assistance they received from the national sports agency.
Gawilan also wished that things return to what it used to in the past, adding, "Para makabalik na ang mga tawo sa ilang mga trabaho ug kami pud maka training na ug regular ug hopefully nga naa ta tanan sa maayong panglawas (So everybody can go back to work and we can also resume to our regular training and hopefully we are all healthy)."
Just like in previous years, Davao City's chess international master (IM) John Marvin Miciano will be with his family here and since it's school break, he continues training online every day with his coach.
"I hope that the vaccine for coronavirus will be made available sooner and when it's safe enough to travel I hope to continue my campaign abroad," the Ateneo de Davao University student said.
Dabawenya Fide Online World Cadets & Youth Rapid Chess Championships Asian qualifier Samantha Umayan also wishes the same thing. "I hope mawala na po yung Covid and for 2021 to be a better year," Umayan said.