Filipino Olympians
EVERY four years, Filipinos get the chance to look at the country’s athletes as a band of “soldiers” beyond the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Efren “Bata” Reyes or the Azkals.
Individual Filipino athletes bring glory to the country when they knock down an opponent in a title fight or international competition. It is, somehow, different in the Olympics.
In the Olympic Games, the Philippines is one of the 200 nations participating in competitions inside one venue within the next two weeks. It is in the Olympics where the disparity of sports resources between countries becomes more pronounced; yet the overcoming of these obstacles makes a victory a celebration of the human spirit.
The opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games brings to focus the 11 Philippine athletes representing the country.
The 11 athletes are Jasmine Alkhaldi of Parañaque City for Swimming (women’s 100-m freestyle); Mark Barriga of Panabo, Davao, for Boxing (men’s light fly--49 kg); Rachelle Anne Cabral of Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley, for Archery (women’s individual); Daniel Caluag, a Filipino-American of Harbor City, California, USA, for Cycling (men’s BMX); Hidilyn Diaz of Zam- boanga City for Weightlifting (women’s 58 kg);
Rene Herrera of Jordan, Iloilo, for Athletics (men’s 5000m); Tomohiko Hoshina, a Filipino-Japanese of Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, for Judo (men’s +100kg); Mark Javier of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, for Archery (men’s individual); Jessie Lacuna of Pulilan, Bulacan, for Swimming (men’s 200m freestyle); Paul Brian Rosario of Manila for Shooting (men’s skeet); and Merestella Torres of San Jose, Negros Occidental, for Athletics (women’s long jump).
They proudly walked behind the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony Saturday morning. President Benigno Aquino III assured the players they have the country’s support and good wishes. He expects them to put up a good fight, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
Good luck to them. Surprise the country with a medal or two.
*** To many of the athletes participating in the Olympics, the games are not just about winning. They know they carry their country’s name in every game. Others have an added reason for striving to give it their best.
Take the case of Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin, a native of Aurora, Colorado, and who lived just 20 minutes away from the theater where 12 people were killed and 58 others wounded by a man who attacked moviegoers. Franklin said she was shocked by the news of the killings. She said she would do her best in the games to give her community some reason to smile despite the recent tragedy.
Then there were the Afghanistan sprinters who trained under war conditions and hurdled obstacles to their Olympic dream. They said their pursuit for medals is a fight for peace.
Even before the first medal is handed out, they and the rest of the Olympic athletes are already heroes for bearing the responsibility for their community and country.