Mary Francine Padios gave the Philippines its first gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games after she emerged victorious in the pencak silat’s women’s seni (artistic or form) tunggal single on Wednesday at the Bac Tu Lien Gymnasium.
Padios thus pushed the Philippines onto the medals table a day before this side of Asia celebrates its biennial multi-sport festival.
With this feat, the 18-year old Kalibo, Aklan native improved on the silver she won in the Philippines SEA Games held in 2019, a feat she said inspired her to fulfill because of her dad Jerome’s misfortune just before Christmas.
“My dad has become my inspiration after he figured in a terrible car accident on her way home in Aklan just before Christmas,” said Padios, whose dad has fallen into a coma since. “He was so exhausted and drowsy from work he slept before the wheel and met the accident.”
“He’s been movitating me ever since,” said Padios, whose 9.960 score bested the score of favorite Arum Sari of Indonesia who settled for silver with a 9.945.
Meanwhile, Helen Aclopen accounted for a silver medal in women’s – 48 kgs of kurash, which also produced bronze medals from Charlie Quelino and George Baclagan. (JNP)