FILIPINA PRIDE SHINES IN PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Photo from PhilStar

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, we witnessed the second and third gold Olympic medals brought home in Philippine sports history. Our national pride was at an all-time high considering such a monumental achievement.

On another note, we see the inspiring rise of athletes displaying their passion for sports and their love for our country. Among them are two remarkable women: a Coast Guard officer who has consistently bagged medals in boxing and a sister fulfilling her late brother's dreams. Each one proudly wore a bronze medal at the podium. Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas embody the resilience and determination that define us as Filipinos. These Filipina athletes demonstrated what it means to persevere through challenges and uplift our nation’s name.

Nesthy Petecio previously garnered an Olympic silver medal last 2020. According to sources, she will be receiving a well-deserved promotion in her rank as a Philippine Coast Guard and become Petty Officer First Class. No less than our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations for her triumph in making it to a bronze medal in the featherweight division of Olympic boxing. We only feel immense pride as she raised her arms to showcase the skill and strength of Filipino female boxers, with the support of her fellow sailors. Nesthy Petecio came from a humble background, initially taking up boxing for self-defense. She soon began competing in local tournaments as a way to support her family financially. At the tender age of 11, she made a name for herself by defeating a larger male opponent. This caught the attention of boxing coaches and secured her a spot in the 2007 Smart National Youth Boxing Tournament.

Conversely, Aira Villegas, a fellow female boxer, carried not just the hopes of our people, but also the dreams of her father and siblings. She achieved this by winning the second bronze medal in the light flyweight division in honor of her hometown, Tacloban City, and her family. Her family has always been supportive of her boxing career from a young age. Like Nesthy, Aira also came from a poor family. She remarked, “Yung goal ko is gold. Mahirap lang talaga kami. Na-try kong maputulan ng ilaw. Christmas natulog lang kami, New Year. Magdildil ng asin. Kung hindi ko gagawin 'to walang mangyayari. Kailangan kong tulungan ang sarili ko, yung pamilya ko.”

Far away from home, Aira Villegas was able to beat down Wassila Lhkadiri, on her home turf in France. However, she had to take a loss when she was stopped by Turkish Buse Naz Cakiroglu from reaching the semifinals. It was a valiant effort on her part, as her dedication to the craft made her reach far enough to win a medal in her first stint in the Olympics. Moreover, she said her aspirations, as a pugilist do not end here.

The journey of our Filipina boxers exemplifies the resilient spirit of the Filipino people and our unwavering drive to fight and succeed. As the old saying goes, if you come from the bottom there is no way to go but up. It is amazing how Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas both took on this challenge and won on a global stage. It is apt to end with the quote, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all," which highlights the idea that overcoming difficult situations can lead to unique and extraordinary results.