PINAY power has brought an end to an almost century-old drought of Olympic gold medals for our country.
Powerhouse Hidilyn Diaz has won for us our first gold medal when she set an Olympic record by lifting 127kg in the Olympic clean and jerk weightlifting event.
I can still recall that fateful day when boxer Onyok Velasco was denied a gold medal in 1996, and tears welled in my eyes out of frustration and anger as TV commentator Ron de los Reyes openly bewailed how we had been robbed of a victory.
Well, the other day, this crybaby Last Rounder let them fall freely and proudly down my cheeks again as the “Lupang Hinirang” was played while a crying Diaz stood proudly atop the podium brandishing our country’s first Olympic gold medal.
WATERSHED MOMENT. But because this is the Philippines where drama is a perennial presence in almost every facet of our lives, like clockwork those who attempted to denigrate the moment by bringing up the government’s lack of support started yapping.
Well, guess what. It’s a tale as old as time. For as long as I can remember that’s a problem that will always beset a third world country like ours. That’s an issue that spans administrations and regimes.
That’s just blatant virtue signaling and grandstanding while trying to capitalize on a watershed moment like this to pursue a political agenda. I didn’t hear any of you drum up support for Diaz before this either.
She is a national athlete under the support of our national government, receiving a stipend just like the others. Sure it’s not enough and it will never be, but the same goes for all the athletes.
What will happen if another Olympian wins gold in the coming days, are we going to fight about that too? Give it a rest, guys.
This moment is beyond factions and should transcend all our fractured politics. She is the epitome of the best that we can be. Let her inspire, not divide us. That’s what heroes do.
BOXING. Speaking of medals, as of this writing, boxer Nesthy Petecio is already assured of a bronze medal having advanced to the semifinals after defeating Yeni Marcela Arias of Colombia.
With this, we are already assured of our best medal finish ever in the Olympics. That’s Pinay power for you!
Something tells me we are not done yet. Boxing has traditionally been our best source of medals and I have high hopes for Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam.
VERBATIM. “Whether there’s an allowance or none, we will still continue what we are doing, and we still do our best in training because we are representing our country.” -- Hidilyn Diaz, January 2021 (www.sports.inquirer.net)
LAST ROUND. It’s for a dear friend, Liezel Gedorio of the MTCC-OCC of Mandaue City who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!