FINDING ANSWERS
Former Senator
Atty. Joey Lina
A grateful nation was overwhelmed with grief over the news that the legendary Lydia de Vega-Mercado passed away last Wednesday.
With the outpouring of accolades and tributes that followed, it was obvious how the Philippines’ most celebrated sprint queen and Asia’s fastest in the 80’s had a captivating impact on sports leaders and fans in this part of the world.
It was clear that Lydia became well-loved not only for all her sterling achievements as sports hero, but for her endearing simplicity, enduring kindness, unpretentious humility, and a host of other virtues that catapulted her to the stature of a truly outstanding Filipino.
As recounted by friends, family members, and admirers from all over, Lydia possessed – as a person and a sports icon – the superb qualities of a modern-day hero. “She’s a real superstar, a real darling of the press, the darling of the nation,” according to Elma Muros-Posadas, another legendary sprinter and long jump queen.
Lydia indeed was our country’s source of immense pride in the 80’s and 90’s as the undisputed sprint queen of Asia with her national record of 11.28 seconds in the 100-meter dash remaining unbroken for more than three decades.
With all her successes in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Athletics Championships where she consistently won many gold medals in the 100 and 200-meter events, Lydia gave Filipinos tremendous honor and prestige.
I’m fortunate to have had a first-hand account on how Lydia truly inspired the Filipino youth and how she mesmerized a nation yearning for real-life heroes.
When I was chairman of the Senate youth and sports committee in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I conceptualized and pursued the Create a Sports Hero program which aimed at tapping sports talents at the grassroots level, as well as ensuring the success of our country’s hosting of the SEA Games at that time
Lydia served as the poster girl for the program which also aimed to ensure the success of our athletes in the SEA Games. There was yet no Internet and social media interaction was still non-existent, but we knew that we had to mobilize young people and inspire them to show full support for our local athletes.
Thus, we enlisted the support of schools and encouraged students to write inspirational letters to our athletes, assuring them of whole-hearted support and fervent prayers for their success in the SEA Games our country was hosting.
Aware that Lydia was the poster girl and driving force behind the Create a Sports Hero program, students in private and public schools from Metro Manila and provinces wrote enthusiastically. Sacks filled with letters kept coming.
Private companies also threw in their support in various ways, like adopting athletes and providing for their needs. It was indeed an ideal time when joint efforts of the private sector and government worked seamlessly. As I wrote previously, such was sort of a golden era for sports when the sense of national pride and unity was overwhelming, all because Lydia gave her all in reaping successes and inspiring many others.
Indeed, at the peak of her legendary achievements, Lydia inspired all-out efforts to help our athletes. She showed how government, despite meager resources but working hand in hand with the private sector, can go a long way in harnessing grassroots sports talents.
For her heroism and the immense pride and honor she gave all of us Filipinos with all her successes brought about by her hard work, discipline, and love of country, Lydia shall always be remembered. May God grant her eternal peace. My deepest condolences to all her loved ones.
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