What Mary Joy Tabal’s win means for her kin, community
Rolando Tabal, a retired police officer and father of four, always knew his daughter Mary Joy was competitive. She’s been that way since she was a child.
Yet even he is amazed by how far his daughter has come. Her latest feat, a gold medal-winning performance in the Southeast Asian Games marathon last Saturday in Malaysia, came a year after she competed in the marathon in the Olympics. Tabal’s latest victory is also inspiring children whom she coaches as a volunteer in the community where she grew up, more than a half-marathon’s distance from the center of Cebu City.
“I will hug her.”
This will be the first thing Rolando Tabal said he will do when he meets his daughter, Mary Joy, who won gold in the 29th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games.
Mary Joy, a native of Barangay Guba, a mountainous area 26 kms. from the city proper, lifted the spirits of the far-flung community with her victory in Kuala Lumpur, Ma- laysia last Aug. 19.
Rolando, a retired police officer, raised his four children as a solo parent. He said that at a young age, Mary Joy always had a competitive spirit, but he never expected that she would get this far.
“I did not think she will become an athlete because we’re just poor and my focus then was to send them to school,” Rolando, 58, told SunStar Cebu in an interview.
“I’m very happy for my daughter. She achieved her dream while I’m still alive,” said Rolando. “She’s able to get the gold medal. Even if we’re far from each other I always pray for her.”
Rolando said that when he heard that Mary Joy won the first gold medal for the country, he was very happy.
Mary Joy started running as a third grader at Guba Elementary School, and since then her father was there to support her. But there was a point when Rolando advised Tabal to quit running.
It happened when Tabal collapsed at the finish line in 2009 after running the 10-km. category of the Don Sergio Osmeña Run.
“I told her to quit because the sport can cause her life,” he said. “I let her continue after her teammates explained to me the nature of long distance running.”
Four years later, Tabal clinched her first major title in the Milo Marathon National Finals, and the rest is history.
“I’m proud of my Ate Mary Joy. I want to be like her, to be an Olympian someday is my dream. I would like to thank her for all the help she gave us grassroots runners,” said Jessel Ochia, 11, one of the grassroots runners from Barangay Guba, Cebu City.
The 28-year-old marathoner is giving back by serving as a volunteer coach under the grassroots program of Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) since 2015.
“I want to be like Ate Mary Joy. I love her,” Stacy Nicole Apa, 9, said.
“Ate Mary Joy has given us grassroots runners shoes and school supplies. We’re happy about her gold medal,” said sixth grader John Lourence Arita.
If there’s someone who has known Mary Joy since she was a kid, it’s her fourth grade adviser Eugeany “Englatera” Elarcosa, who was there when the former won medals in the sporting events like the division meet, unit meet, Cebu City Olympics and the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa).
Elarcosa said that aside from being a runner, Mary Joy was one of the best dancers in the school’s dancing club.
“Even before, Mary Joy was an achiever. In academics she was always in the top five. She also excelled in sports and other extra curricular activities. We already had a hint that she would become a successful person,” she said.
Guba Elementary School Principal Gerry Demellites said that Mary Joy is an inspiration to the students. The school will coordinate with the barangays for a hero’s welcome.
“She has donated armchairs, school supplies, shoes and also volunteered as coach for the students in the school. She has contributed a lot to us,” said Demellites.
Barangay Captain Orlan Herrera said they will give Mary Joy a recognition for her feat.
“We will organize a hero’s welcome for her. She’s a great pride for our place because wherever she goes she brings the name of Barangay Guba. We will coordinate with her for a hero’s welcome,” said Herrera.
Mary Joy returns to Cebu on Friday afternoon.
Mary Joy, who stands 4’11’’, captured the country’s first gold medal in the 29th Sea Games after dominating the women’s marathon event, finishing the grueling 42K race in two hours, 48 minutes and 26 seconds. She has improved her silver medal finish on her debut two years ago in Singapore.
“The Mary Joy we knew before she became a champion is the same Mary Joy today. She has a lot of blessings because her feet remain on the ground,” said Demellites.
Rolando said that he’s thankful to all the people who helped his daughter.