As we pause from the rat race and take a few days off for the Holy Week, let us remember that this is not just a time to relax, but more importantly it is also a time to reflect on life.
I also hope all of us would have safe trips as we head to our hometowns.
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I received informa-tion from Jojo Tiongko about the sporting success of a Cebuana in the United States.
Jojo shared the story of 17-year-old Margaret Lu who is going to be part of the United States team to the London Olympics next year.
Margaret, who lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, is the reigning foil champion of the US.
According to the email of Jojo, who I have known since his junior golf days at Cebu Country Club, Margaret’s parents are Carlos Lu and Mona Corcuera-Lu. Mona is a Cebuana, whose parents Rudy and Resing Corcuera still reside at Pleasant Homes Subdivision in Punta Princesa, this city.
Jojo came to know about Margaret’s story as he is married to the fencer’s cousin and they often visit the Lu family when they are in the US.
There are high hopes for Margaret to win a medal in the London Olympics and I’m sure, we Filipinos would have another person to root for even if she would not be carrying our country’s tri-colors.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to compete and win a medal in the quadrennial Summer Games. We first sent a team in 1924, but first won a medal in Amsterdam in 1928 courtesy of Teofilo Ydelfonso in the 400-M breaststroke where he took the bronze.
The first Filipino-American to win a gold medal was Victoria Manalo-Draves, who won not one, but two gilts, in the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events of the diving competition during the 1948 London Olympics.
She was born of Filipino parents, who also migrated to the United States, which is very much similar to Margaret.
The Olympics was also hosted by London then. Who knows, history might repeat itself.
Thanks Jojo for the information.
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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to Debbie Bonachita-Stehnicky and Magnolia Ponteras-Shin, who are celebrating today.
Advance greetings go to The Freeman’s Elecis Jane Quimpan, RCTV’s Alexis Yap, my Tao brother Eric Lacuban, and Kent Ong, who are celebrating tomorrow.
The same goes for those celebrating on Saturday like Xenia Prieto-Blair and Sheila Nimer-Micarnadayo and on Sunday Jay Yumang, Locelle Gabunada, and Gary Yusingco.
More power to all of you!