President Marcos Jr.: She fought a good fight

SHE fought a good fight. This was how President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. described former Asian Sprint Queen Lydia De Vega, who passed away last Wednesday at age of 57 due to breast cancer.

“Lydia de Vega has run her last race. She has finished her contest. She has fought a good fight. Let us pray for her peace,” Marcos said in a statement posted in his Facebook account.

He honored the memory of De Vega-mercado by recalling her feats in sports.

De Vega won gold in the 100 meters in the 1982 New Delhi and the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, and 1983 and 1987 Asian championships. She was also a ninetime Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and twice Olympian in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1988 in Seoul.

“Lydia was once touted as the fastest woman in Asia and she placed the Philippines in the map of international athletics,” Marcos said.

Here’s what they say about the loss of De Vega:

“I grieve as an athlete and friend. Lydia is my contemporary. It is such a big loss to Philippine sports. I was even counting on her to help me in my tasks as Commissioner since she was a PSC consultant for a long time. I am sure her legacy and achievements will continue to inspire for generations to come, as she was also an inspiration to me.”

—Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner

Olivia “Bong” Coo

“Lydia ‘Diay’ de Vega-mercado’s demise is a big loss to us. Dubbed ‘the fastest woman in Asia,’ she put Philippine sports on the world map and brought much honor to our country. She will long be remembered by the nation. May her achievements motivate other Filipino athletes to aspire for excellence in their chosen sport.”

—Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

“She not only ruled the tracks, she also won the hearts of Filipinos for her world-class talent which rallied our country to a great sense of national pride and honor.”

—Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

“Kaisa ko ang buong bansa sa pagluluksa sa pagpanaw ng isang alamat. Hindi natin malilimutan ang karangalang ibinigay niya sa ating mga Pilipino mula noong dekada 1980s. Dahil sa kanya, naging kahanga-hanga ang Pilipinas sa ating karatig bansa. Pero higit pa rito, atin siyang dapat pasalamatan sa inspirasyong ibinigay niya sa atin, hindi lamang bilang atleta at bilang Pilipino.”

—Senator Robin Padilla

“I am saddened by the loss of ‘one of our first female heroes.’ In her last days, she asked for financial help from the public because there are insufficient programs to support and give retirement benefits for our past Olympians.”

—Rep. Margarita Nograles (PBA party-list)

“Lydia De Vega’s legacy will live on especially in how she paved the way for the likes of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz in capturing the imagination of girls in sports.” —Rep. Elpidio Barzaga (Dasmariñas)