At 46, Tac wants to give parting shot in London Olympics

MANILA, Philippines - As a 12-year-old, Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla had already hogged the spotlight as a world junior champion in his pet rapid fire, center fire and standard pistol events when he won in the Benito Juarez World Shooting Championships in Mexico City.

Now 46, the son of two-time Olympian Tom Ong continued to bring honors not only to himself but also to the country, winning no less than five gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games since 1977, nine Southeast Asian Shooting championships and more than a dozen silver and bronze medals in other Asian and continental competitions.

Barely a month ago, Padilla, general manager of Malabon Soap and Oil Industrial Co. and president of the Multi Oil Manufacturing Corp. and MSO Premiums Oil Corp., ended a personal 16-year gold medal drought in the SEA Games when he topped the rapid fire event in Laos.

“You know, I shouldn’t be asking for more in my life as a shooter. I have sort of etched my name in the history of the SEA Games where I saw action continuously from 1977 when I was only 13. But the only thing I wish for now is to compete in the Olympic Games,” Padilla said.

Saying he might be running out of time, Padilla said that he will devote more time in training to realize a long-time dream two years from now in London.

“Mabuti pa nga si Papa (Tom Ong) nakadalawang Olympics, ako wala pa ni isa ganung mas maaga akong nagsimulang pumutok. Baka nga maunahan pa akong maging Olympian ng mga estudyante ko,” he said in reference to his talented products in the shooting association’s national youth development program of which he is the chairman.

These include daughter Micahela, 18, who was also a member of the national team to last year’s SEA Games. His eldest, Michelle Patricia, also tried shooting but quit due to pressure.

“Of course, I won’t be neglecting my job. That is where we get our means of livelihood. But it’s a question of time management. With a little sacrifice, I’m sure I can do both,” the team owner the Spring Cooking Oil basketball team and president of the National Basketball Conference, said.

“It’s really hard to make it to the Olympics now because not only you have to survive the qualifying tournaments, you also have to earn points in several other competitions to maintain your ranking like the very tough World Cup and the World Championships,” Padilla said.

“Meaning you really have to compete in as many overseas competitions as needed besides, you know, spending money for guns and ammo,” Padilla said.

Padilla, member of the board of trustees of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the board of regents of the City of Malabon University, said he will compete in the World Cup of Shooting set this April in Beijing and the World Shooting Championships in Munich in July to qualify for the London Games.