Ginataang langka, galunggong await Cris

The mother of Cris Nievarez was in tears when she learned that her son made it to the quarterfinals of the men’s single sculls event of the Tokyo Olympics.

In an interview with Daily Tribune, Shirley Nievarez said she was very happy over the performance of her son, whom she knows as soft-spoken and very obedient yet dedicated and passionate in his goal of becoming the first Filipino gold medalist in the Olympics.

Nievarez, 21, made history when he finished third in the preliminary heats and became the first Filipino rower to advance to the next round of the Summer Games.

His coach, Edgardo Maerina, was the first to try, but bombed out in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 while Benjie Tolentino also failed to advance in the next round of the Melbourne Olympics in 2000.

Now, Nievarez has a chance to go all the way when he battles the world’s best rowers in the quarterfinals on Monday.

“I cried when I learned that he finished third in the Olympics,” said the 59-year-old Shirley, who makes both ends meet by doing laundry for her neighbors in Atimonan in Quezon Province.

“Cris deserves it. More than working hard in training, he is such a kind and obedient boy. He is very religious. He never gives me trouble, even when he was still studying high school.”

I cried when I learned that he finished third in the Olympics.

Shirley said her son is shy and soft-spoken.

“In fact, whenever he’s here, he will just sit and use his phone. He will not go out of the house unless his friends come here and invite him somewhere. Most of the time, he’s just here at home getting some sleep.”

She added that whatever happens — whether he wins a medal or not — she will always be proud of her son.

“I’m so proud of him,” she said. “He makes everybody here very proud.”

Shirley said her son’s favorite food is ginataang langka and fried galunggong.

That’s why when he finally gets home from the Tokyo battlefield, she will make sure to cook it for him as his reward for a job well done.

And hopefully, there will be a shiny Olympic medal hanging on his neck.