Philippines' first gold medalist in Vietnam SEA Games dedicates triumph to dad in coma

Winning a medal has a deeper meaning for the Philippines' first gold medalist in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Pencak silat athlete Mary Francine Padios dedicated her win on Wednesday to her father, who has been on a coma since the start of the year after a car accident last December.

"Dapat 'di ako matalo kasi para 'to kay daddy na ngayon [ay] nahihirapan. Kailangan 'to ng dad ko kaya na-boost po ang confidence ko and nabigyan ng focus ang galaw ko po," the 18-year-old Aklanon said in an interview with GMA News Online.

"Okay naman 'yung situation niya physically, pero nagre-recover [pa rin] siya, naka-comatose siya talaga."

("I must not lose because this is for daddy, who is suffering right now. He needs this so my confidence got boosted and my moves gained more focus.")

Padios said that the reward she will get as a SEA Games medalist will be used for his dad's recovery.

"Medyo nahihirapan po kami financially kasi nilagay po namin siya sa private [hospital] kasi nga po para mas maka-recover siya nang maaga. Sa ngayon, ilang months na po, since January hanggang ngayon, dun pa rin siya naka-stay. Mabigat na po sa wallet, mabigat na sa gastusin," Padios said.

"Hinahanapan po namin ng paraan para makapag-ipon at ma-transfer po siya sa public hospital."

("We're having some difficulty financially because we took him to a private hospital so that he can recover sooner. For a few months now, since January up to the present, he's still there. It's been tough on our wallets, the costs are heavy. We're looking for ways to save funds and transfer him to a public hospital.")

Overwhelming to represent Philippines

Being the country's first gold medalist in this edition of the biennial meet, Padios said that she was not expecting to win a gold in the tournament because of some changes in the rules.

"In-expect ko lang maka-medal, pero 'di ko inexpect ang [gold] medal, pero 'yun ang goal ko," she said. "Pero in God's will, nakamit ko po. Nakuha ko po ang gold."

("I just expected to win a medal, but I didn't expect the gold though it's my goal. But in God's will, I achieved it. I captured the gold.")

For her, it was a big privilege to represent the Philippines.

"Kahit siguro tumagal ako sa [pencak] silat, sa national team, 'di ako magsasawa sabihin na nakaka-overwhelm na nire-represent ko ang Pilipinas kasi di lang siya Pilipinas na word, lugar ang dala mo."

"'Yung buong bayan. Kumbaga, apelyido mo na 'yan eh," she said.

("Even if I would have a long career in pencak silat, in the national team, I will never get tired of saying that it's overwhelming to represent the Philippines because it's not just the word, the place that you carry. It's the whole nation. That's your last name.")

Aside from Padios, her teammates Jefferson Loon, James Mayagma, and Rick Ortega bagged the bronze medal in the pencak silat men's seni regu category.

—MGP, GMA News