Grit, determination saw Margielyn Didal through hard journey to gold medal

The moment a skateboard shot out towards a 12-year-old Margielyn Didal as she curiously watched skaters from the fringes was the moment that changed her life.

In fact, she would say it was kind of like destiny.

"Na-curious ako tungkol sa skateboarding, nakita ko lang may naglalaro. Nung time na yun, nagshoot out yung board papunta sakin, parang tinadhana, kung baga," said the now 19-year old champion in an episode of Good News.

Margielyn recalled having borrowed the board, feeling comfortable on it for her first time.

"Triny ko mag-ride. So yung first ride ko komportable naman, parang normal lang mag-ride. So parang napatanong yung may-ari ng board na sinolian ko. Sabi niya, 'Nag-se-skate ka ba?' Sabi ko, no po, first time ko mag-ride ng skate board," she said.

Being a 12-year-old with little savings, Margielyn couldn't afford her own skateboard when she first got hooked in the sport.

Her father was a carpenter and her mother a street vendor selling kwek-kwek.

She recalled being asked to buy flour and cooking oil only to return two hours later because she had rented a skateboard.

And aside from having to rent a board just to keep practicing the sport, Margielyn had to deal with her parents' disapproval.

"Ayoko talagang maglaro siya niyan kasi gusto kong ipagpatuloy niya yung pagaaral niya. Iniisip ko kasi noon sa larong iyan, parang wala kang makukuha, mababalian ka lang o mabubungi," said her father Lito.

Margielyn had temporarily stopped her schooling just to focus on the sport.

She put all of her focus on practicing so that she could join local and international competitions.

But even that was a struggle as she and her friends were fined and chased by police when they were caught practicing in the streets.

"Sa streets lang, sabay habol ng security. Hinahabol kami, mga tanod ng barangay. Fun moments naman before pero minsan nag-sa-sawa rin kasi struggle everyday, kasi di mo alam san kayo papunta," she said.

In a skatepark in Cebu, she caught the eye of who would later on be her coach and manager, which opened doors for Margielyn.

Lots of practice and a lot more falls later, Margielyn brought home a gold medal to her family. She won the women's street category for skateboarding in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the Philippines' fourth gold in the competition.

Margielyn plans to use her P6 million in prize money to give her family a good life and establish a business.

"Gusto ko lang naman tumulong sa parents kasi ayaw ko silang trabaho lang ng trabaho, lagay sila sa magandang buhay, sa magandang bahay, business din," she said.

With courage and determination, Margielyn went from a kid watching skaters from the sidelines, to the Philippines' latest golden girl.

She told those who want to follow her footsteps to always keep in mind where they want to end up.

"Pagpatuloy niyo lang kung ano yung gusto niyong gusto marating, kung ano yung nasa loob ng puso niyo. Pero wag niyo pabayaan yung studies din," she said. — Jessica Bartolome/LA, GMA News