The San Juan City local government on Monday, Oct. 16, gave due recognition to Filipino athlete and proud San Juaneño Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa for winning the Gold medal in the 19th Asian Games Jiu-Jitsu Women’s 48KG Category held in Hangzhou, China on Oct. 5.
(Photo from Patrick Garcia)
In a ceremony held at the City Hall, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and city government officials gave Ochoa P100,000 as cash incentive and a plaque of a city resolution honoring her achievement.
“Today, we are honoring the pride of San Juan. Nais kong ipaalam na meron na pong bagong kampeon ang San Juan. Isang karangalan na ipakilala ang isang tao na nagbigay ng mataas na karangalan sa ating lungsod, si Meggie Ochoa. Meggie, nawa’y maging inspirasyon ka sa mga atleta lalo na dito sa San Juan. Ako’y umaasa na maging inspirasyon ka sa mga kabataan (Today, we are honoring the pride of San Juan. I wish to inform everyone that San Juan City now has a new champion. It is an honor to introduce a person who has given a high honor in our city, she's Meggie Ochoa. Meggie, I hope that you will be an inspiration to all athletes especially those here in San Juan. I also wish for you to become an inspiration to the youth)," Zamora said
"We know that her monumental victory will serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and we hope that this feat will ignite the fire in every San Juaneño to never stop reaching for their dreams, because nothing is impossible with hard work, perseverance and determination. I would also like our athletes to know that your mayor and local government is here to support you in any way we can to help you in achieving your dreams," he added.
The city government passed City Ordinance No. 35, Series of 2023, or an “Ordinance Granting a Cash Incentive to Ms. Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa in the Amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) for Winning the Gold Medal for the Women’s Jiu-Jitsu 48KG Division at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 5, 2023” and City Resolution No. 135, Series of 2023 entitled “A Resolution Congratulating and Commending Ms. Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa for Winning the Gold Medal for Women’s Jiu-Jitsu 48KG Division at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 5, 2023.”
Ochoa expressed her gratitude and appreciation to her hometown, saying, “Maraming salamat po Mayor Zamora. Maraming salamat sa opisyales ng San Juan at nagtatrabaho sa city hall. Na-appreciate ko po ito dahil napaka-warm ng pag-welcome niyo sa ‘kin dito at pag-recognize sa pagkapanalo sa Asian Games. Laking San Juan po ako, mula ng pinanganak ako hanggang ngayon. Malaking bagay po itong recognition dahil iba po ang lugar ng San Juan sa aking puso. Malalim po talaga ang roots (Thank you so much Mayor Zamora. Thank you to all officials of San Juan and those working at the city hall. I appreciate your very warm welcome to me and for recognizing my win in the Asian Games. I grew up here in San Juan and this made the city very close to my heart),"
“Hindi naging madali ang aking pinagdaanan papunta sa Asian Games. Nung Asian Games, tinrangkaso bago ang laban. Na-injure pa po ako. Pumasok po ako sa finals match ng hindi ako 100 percent. Pero sa lahat ng ito isa lang ang ginawa ko para makamit ang gintong medalya, nagtiwala ako sa Diyos. Alam kong pinayagan Niyang mangyari ‘to. Sa Kanya po ako kumapit. Sa kanya lang po tayo magtiwala, Siya ang kapitan natin, kasi kapag kapitan natin Siya, kakapitan din po Niya tayo (My journey to the Asian Games has not been easy. During the Asian Games, I contracted a flu before the fight and even got injured. I was not in my 100 percent when I entered the finals match, however, I put my trust and faith in God. I know He let this win be possible for me. I have put all my faith in Him because I know that if we believe in Him, He will surely be with us every step of the way)," she added
The athlete, who is a proud San Juan resident of Brgy. Batis, is the first Filipina to bag the gold medal after defeating United Arab Emirates’ Balqees Abdulla in the women’s jiu-jitsu 48kg division finals.
Aside from the P100,000 from the LGU, Zamora personally gave Ochoa an additional P100,000
to show his appreciation for bringing pride and inspiration to San Juaneños.
The mayor also announced that San Juan City will be building its multi-level sports complex by 2024 and will be adding a mixed martial arts gym inside. He invited Ochoa to teach jiu-jitsu to San Juan's youth.
President Marcos also recognized the Filipina and Annie Ramirez for their respective wins in the games.
"Congratulations, Meggie! Your comeback in Women's -48kg Jiu-jitsu at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China not only earned us our 2nd gold medal but also proved that martial arts mastery runs deep in our veins," Marcos said on his X post.
"Congratulations to Ms. Annie Ramirez for securing the Philippines' 3rd gold with an impressive victory in the -57kg women's Jiu-jitsu at the 19th Asian Games," he said in a separate post.
Ramirez scored the country's third gold medal by winning against Kazakhstan’s Galina Duvanova in the finals.