In the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Filipinos were in low spirits as natural calamities struck, and uncertainty gripped the populace in several regions. In early July, Taal volcano was showing new signs of increasing unrest which brought anxiety and panic, especially to those who had been affected by its eruption in January last year. Then came days of torrential monsoon rains that caused flooding and landslides in northern and central Luzon, as well as in low-lying areas of the National Capital Region. There was even a 6.7 magnitude quake that rattled the region south of Manila but, fortunately, didn’t cause any damage.
The Philippines was still struggling with a prolonged health crisis as some hospitals were on heightened alert after the confirmation of local cases due to the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant, and medical frontliners were bracing for another surge in infections. As to the government’s pandemic response, the progress of the vaccine rollout had been quite sluggish.
Then on July 26, 2021, President Duterte delivered his final State of the Nation Address, enumerating the achievements of his administration which many netizens, however, found wanting and not totally true. The overall mood was still quite low until an unexpected event…
Everything changed when Filipinos heard the breaking news: Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz clinched the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines since joining the Olympics in 1924! Then the following week, boxer Nesthy Petecio won the silver medal in the women’s featherweight division! As of the writing of this article, boxers Eumir Marcial and Carlos Paalam, are already assured of at least a bronze medal, but still have a chance to get the gold as they move to their semi-final matches in the men’s middleweight and men’s flyweight division respectively. We still have our hopes up for more medals as golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan begin their campaigns for the women’s individual stroke play event.
Questions might pop into our minds: How was this possible? How did they do it? Senate President Vicente Sotto III recalls the old Tagalog saying: “Walang mailap na pangarap sa taong pursigidong makamit ang tagumpay.” (There is no elusive dream to someone who is determined to achieve victory.) True enough, there is no authentic victory that was attained without hard work and an indomitable spirit. Our athletes, most of them from humble backgrounds, have gone through a lot to reach their dreams in life. However, with the support of family and friends, and given opportunities to study and training to excel in their sport, they became “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” as the Olympic motto states. Personal effort and commitment are important, but no one succeeds on one’s own. We need our community to succeed in any endeavor.
These athletic victories have inspired the entire country. Young boys and girls see our athletes as heroes of our nation and role models to follow. Our Filipino Olympians are telling us: If we made it, you can also make it. When we are in the midst of a trial, when we feel like giving up, when all our efforts seem to be in vain, we must not stop but always start anew, trying one more time, to reach our goals, and continue to aim always higher. Hidilyn Diaz even said in a past interview, “Be better than me.” I think this message is not only for the youth but also for adults and all Filipinos in general.
Because of the pandemic, many breadwinners of families had to change their jobs, teachers and students had to get used to online learning, and people had to continue using face masks, observe social distancing, and get vaccinated. If we stop and think only of ourselves and our own hardships, we fail to see the big picture. We will only survive this pandemic if we persevere and work together with others.
Lastly, our combined human effort, though already a big factor, cannot guarantee our success. We have to admit that not everything is in our control. When our strength fails and our faith is lacking, we need to turn to God. In reality, our gifts come from Him, and they should be used to give Him glory. Beyond the fame, privileges, and cash awards, we set our eyes on a prize that doesn’t wither or fade (Cf. 1 Cor 9:25).
The Tokyo Olympics 2020/21 will be remembered in the annals of Philippine sports history as the singular event when our nation’s athletes achieved Olympic glory. Congratulations to our Filipino athletes! Mabuhay kayo! (Long live!)
Jose Aranas
