The Heroine

During the 1990s, as an aspiring sprinter training for intercollegiate races, I had no male athlete to look up to, and it was the reason why I idolized Lydia de Vega, because she was the fastest woman in Asia, and she came from my country - that made me so proud of her.   As a trainee striving for national competitions, our paths never crossed on national games; I never imagined I would have the chance to meet her though.  

That changed in 1991 when I volunteered for the Singaporean athletic team at the SEA Games. While my role involved menial tasks like coordinating schedules and transportation, it placed me behind the scenes of the event. It was there I saw her, if only from a distance.

One morning, I accidentally encountered Lydia de Vega herself while she was taking a walk on the tracks.  She didn’t look well - almost a bit sick. I greeted her cheerfully, and she responded with a nod and a faint smile. I remember worrying for her, as she was scheduled to compete in the 200-meter dash in just a few hours. Despite her condition, she went on to win the silver medal.

We met again in 1994 at an Asian Athletic Meet in Rizal Stadium, though this time I was there as a member of a Philippine choir singing for the delegates. When I saw her, she appeared to be struggling with an injury, and she didn’t win a medal that day. Yet, I felt an immense sense of pride watching her compete despite the pain and the odds.

Lydia de Vega was a hero who once raised our flag high, earning the Philippines respect on the world stage. She will never be forgotten, and I will always cherish my unexpected moments of seeing her up close.