Dream.
This was what Filipino Olympians told hopeful Filipino student-athletes in a bid to inspire them as they embark yet another challenging school year at home this year.
Speaking before thousands of students and sports enthusiasts during the online Pinoy Sports Heroes: The Ultimate Balik Eskwela Sportscon Friday, Sept. 10, first-ever Filipino Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz encouraged the youth to continue dreaming even amid tough times like the pandemic.
"Sa lahat ng mga bata, mangarap kayo. Kaya n'yo po 'yang abutin (To all the youth, dream. Because you can achieve it)," Diaz said.
The celebrated weightlifter said "it's okay to be ambitious" as long as you consistently work on it. As technical issues continue to hound learning at home, Diaz told the students to "learn to adapt" to it.
"Wala naman pong magic sa life e. Kahit sa sports walang magic-- yung paggising n'yo maabot na yung dream. Kailangan talaga to work consistently (There's no magic in life. Even in sports there's no magic-- that when you wake up, your dreams have come true. You really need to work consistently)," Diaz said.
Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam had the same thoughts in mind as he also urged the students to keep working on their dreams because nothing is impossible.
"Walang imposible sa taong may gusto at may pangarap at determinado na may maabot sa buhay, lalo na sa mga kabataan. Magtiwala kayo sa sarili ninyo (Nothing is impossible to people who have wants and dreams and are determined to reach something in life, especially to the youth. Believe in yourself)," Paalam said.
Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, who shared how he overcame the series of laggy virtual training as a preparation for his Olympic stint, has encouraged the students to hang in there and keep going.
"Kahit ilang pandemya ang dumaan, titiisin natin yung mga pangarap natin. Tulad ng mga student athletes na nag-aaral tapos nagte-training, ang hirap po nun. Alam kong ang hirap po nun dahil kailangan mong ipagsabay yung training mo at pag-aaral mo. Ganun po ako, ganun po kaming lahat (No matter how many pandemics will come, we will endure for our dreams. It's hard to be a student-athlete. I know how difficult it is to train and study at the same time. I am also like you, we are also like you)," Marcial said.
Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena shared that what kept him going through the years of being a student-athlete is time management.
"It's tricky to find balance to be able to do both but it is not impossible. There are sacrifices that you need to do as a student athlete. I believe in fair trade so there's things that you want to achieve-- something extraordinary-- and that takes something extraordinary as well," Obiena said.
Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, Olympian skateboarder Margielyn Didal, Olympian gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, and Paralympic swimmer Gary Bejino all echoed each other that nothing is impossible, whether in life or in sports.
"Keep on going sa buhay, 'wag papadala sa insecurity ng sarili mo kasi yun yung binigay ni Lord so kailangan lang natin i-accept yung nangyari and lagi lang tiwala sa sarili (Just keep going in life. Don't be discouraged with your insecurities, you just have to accept it because that's what the Lord gave you. You just have to believe in yourself)," Bejino said.
The virtual sports conference held by the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at inspiring the next generation of Filipino athletes and to heighten the enthusiasm of learners in anticipation of the opening of classes and give importance to being academically excellent while performing well in competitive sports.