From trash to treasure

I have been getting a lot of requests for more features on female athletes. Last week, we got to know karateka Gretchen Malalad. This time, we focus on an athlete who could’ve been a model but ended up sparring and giving flying kicks instead.

"A person’s loss is another person’s gain," says one of the more popular aphorisms that guide us in life. But where Veronica Domingo is concerned – a field’s loss is another field’s gain. She would have wanted to give herself to the entertainment industry; and why not? Towering at 5’8" with a slender body that doesn’t require rigid diet, she would have easily passed as a ramp model. Or better yet, a beauty titlist. "Nung bata kasi ako, gusto ko sana mag-model. Kasi sayang ‘yung height ko. O kaya, mag-Bb. Pilipinas."

But fate had other plans for her. Despite her wish to break into the modeling or pageant scene, her desire to get into sports got the better of her. Starting with volleyball at a young age, Veronica slowly broke into a field where beauty wasn’t given as much emphasis. Height was still an advantage albeit for better reach and athleticism. And the body is pushed to its limits to develop curves (read: muscles) in the right places. "Gustuhin ko man mag-model ngayon, hindi na puwede. Malaki na rin kasi ‘yung muscles ko."

Nonetheless Veronica has no regrets. "Masaya ako. Marami akong nakikilalang kaibigan. At ‘yung… ‘pag may mga bata na nakikita akong naglalaro, tapos sinasabi nila na magaling ako, nakakataba ng puso," she beams.

She was a volleyball varsity player in St. Francis in Cavite. And this skill for sports was what she used to get into Far Eastern University where she was taken in as a reserve while also being a member of the RP Youth team. But again, there was something more in store for her.

"Medyo nakita ko kasi na sa volleyball, medyo tagilid ‘yung chances ko. Marami din kasi talagang magagaling. At parang hindi ako nabibigyan ng break," was the realization that motivated Veronica to try out another sport. She was 18 years old when she started cross-training with the taekwondo team. And in 1997, she realized she has found her home.

In 1998, she experienced her first competition where she won a bronze medal in the All Women’s. Shortly after, a gold medal followed from the New Face competition in the same year. In 1999, after two years of learning and loving the sport, she made it to the National Team. The 1999 SEA Games in Brunei was her first international competition. "Natalo ako e. Pero pagtapos nun, I promised myself na hahanapin ko ‘yung tumalo sa kin."

The year after, she did just that at the South East Asian Taekwondo where she won her first gold medal in the international scene. "Pero hindi ko na siya nakita. Babawian ko sana. Gusto ko talunin. Pero nag-retire na daw," she laments. Last year, she won a bronze medal for the country at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.

Don’t be fooled by her angelic face for beneath the charm is a feisty character that would surrender to and would accept defeat from no one. "Kung kaya nila, kaya ko din." She says she feels blessed and thinks she’s really gifted with the skills to succeed in taekwondo. She’s most proud about the fact that she won her first gold medal only two years into her training. "Yung iba nga, ilang pung taon na, wala pa din. Malas pa din."

And amidst her victories, she cites humility as her most valuable lesson from winning. "Kailangan magpakumbaba. Marunong dapat lumingon kung saan ka galing at magpasalamat sa mga taong tumulong sa iyo."

Aside from the inspiration she gets from the people who have helped her along the way, she also finds motivation in training. Her daily routine includes waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run around the oval from 6-7:30. After which she rushes to the gym to lift weights from 7:30-9:00 a.m. Evening training starts from 6:00 — 9:00 p.m. for sparring and kicks. Iniisip ko lang ‘yung mga sacrifices ko. Pinaghihirapan mo, nag-t-training ka, gamitin mo. Sayang e."

Skill isn’t the only thing that makes an athlete. It’s the combination of talent and skill with the right attitude. And that’s why we know Veronica will achieve more in the years to come. And that’s why we should be thankful she made the right choice and entered the right field.

Modeling’s loss was sporting world’s gain. Volleyball’s trash was taekwondo’s treasure.