Michelle honored by Aussie government

Asian Games team showjumping silver medallist Michelle Cojuangco-Barrera was cited as one of only 20 honorees to receive the prestigious Commonwealth of Australia Federal Award in Sydney last Friday.

Barrera, 19, was the lone equestrienne in the elite honor roll. The Sports Achievement Award was certified by Minister for the Arts and Sports Rod Kemp and Federal Member Alan Cadman "in recognition of outstanding achievement attained in equestrian sports including the Junior New South Wales Champion, the 2000 Australian Junior Champion, Young Equitation Rider of the Year, Member of the Silver Medal Team at the 2002 Asian Games and the World Cup Qualifier 2003."

The granddaughter of San Miguel Corp. Chairman Eduardo and Gretchen Cojuangco, Barrera marked a milestone in her showjumping career when she became the youngest ever to win a World Cup Qualifier in the Pacific league last December.

"This is a very exciting development and she is quite elated by it," said Barrera’s father Mike in an e-mail from Sydney where he has lived with his wife Tina and their four children since 1996. "The FEI (Federation Equestre International) representative for the Pacific league is in the process of ascertaining that Michelle may also be the youngest World Cup winner in history."

In a personal memorandum, Cadman justified Barrera’s selection by listing her achievements–Second place, Australian Junior Championships 2000; Junior New South Wales (NSW) Equestrian Federation of Australia Rider of the Year 2000; the NSW Equestrian Federation of Australia Young Equitation Rider of the Year in 1996-99 and 2002; Member of the Silver Medal Team in the 2002 Asian Games; First place, Sale World Cup Qualifier; Youngest ever to win a World Cup Qualifier in the Pacific league’ and Second place, Bega World Cup Qualifier 2003."

Barrera is not only making waves as an athlete. In the classroom, she is as gifted. Her father said she was granted a scholarship at the University of New South Wales where she is taking up psychology.

The 5-3, 110-pound Barrera initially thought of entering medical school. "I eventually realized that doing medicine was everything I knew I never wanted," she said. "I wasn’t up for losing horses completely, getting four hours of sleep due to the amount of studying required and having no time with my family. However, I was still interested in how different chemicals affect the body in different ways, how the brain works, how people think, so I looked at specific courses that did just that and I came up with health science, psychology and forensics." She finally decided on psychology.

Barrera teamed with first cousin Danielle Cojuangco, aunt Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworksi and Toni Leviste in riding the Philippines to a silver finish in showjumping at the Asian Games in Busan last year. Another first cousin Paola Cojuangco was an alternate in the squad.

Barrera’s dream is to someday compete in the Olympics for the Philippines. "I think that’s every athlete’s dream," she said. "I’m just hoping to make it a reality. Athens 2004 is the goal and it would be a blessing if I get there. If I don’t, I still have 2008 and 2012 to try for. The beauty about this sport is you can keep at it, no matter how old you get. In fact, the longer you stay at it, the better you become."

Barrera said her Olympic dream was kindled by her first teacher Denise Yabut in 1992. "Tita Nise started my cousins and I when we first started riding in Manila at her riding school in Ayala Alabang," recalled Barrera. "I think she wanted to make clear to us from the start that the Olympics was going to be a tough road to take and although she may have been too tough at times, she set the fire in us, to keep us going, no matter what. Seeing Toni compete out there at the (2000 Sydney) Games made it all feel really close to home, too. She had set herself a goal and worked her hardest to achieve it. I’m hoping to follow in her footsteps. I’ve set a goal and now, all the work is ahead to make my dream a reality."

When Sydney hosted the Olympics, Barrera took the opportunity to watch the Games up close.

"The 2000 Olympics was a real eye-opener for me," she continued. "I was finally able to see the Europeans in the flesh. I always thought they were gods and goddesses of the riding world but at the Games, especially on the last day when our hero Rodrigo Pessoa got eliminated, I saw that the magnificent gap between them and the rest of the world was not nearly as big as I thought. It was just like (coach) Vicki (Roycroft) once told me, ‘Riding is one of the toughest sports because it requires the synchronizing of two minds at the right time and the right place.’ Those who could do that on the day (of competition) won and that was it. At the Games, I was also able to meet some of my riding heroes–the Whitaker brothers, Bruce Goodin (once a Philippine team coach), and many others. I was able to get autographs from Ludger Beerbaum and Pessoa although unable to meet them in person."

Barrera’s grandparents Ambassador and Mrs. Cojuangco are her inspiration. They flew to Busan to witness the Philippines bag a gold and a silver in equestrian. And when they’re in Australia and Barrera is competing, they never fail to watch from the stands to provide moral support.

"Michelle’s grandfather (Ambassador Cojuangco) has always advised her to take her time, to invest her time wisely in training," said Barrera’s father. "He often tells her that success doesn’t come overnight but it will come with hard work, dedication, and discipline."

With her head firmly on her shoulders, Barrera is on course for bigger things in the future.