Philippines: Gatchalian files resolution honoring Lydia de Vega

PHILIPPINES, August 14 - Press Release
August 12, 2022

Gatchalian files resolution honoring Lydia de Vega

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution expressing the Senate's condolences and sympathy on the death of Lydia de Vega-Mercado, who was known as Asia's Fastest Woman in the 1980s.

In Proposed Senate Resolution No. 132, Gatchalian cited how de Vega was revered as Asia's undisputed fastest woman. The senator also recognized how de Vega continues to inspire a younger generation of Filipino athletes, "especially the young women who are bent on breaking both barriers and records" to uplift the country's spirit.

From 1981, the sprinter from Meycauayan collected a total of 15 gold medals

across multiple international sports competitions. She was also a two-time Olympian who participated in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic games.

Gatchalian recalled that during the 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in Manila, de Vega had a remarkable opening salvo to a long and successful athletics career when she won the 200m and 400m golds. It was in the 1982 Asian games in New Delhi, India where de Vega started her ascent as Asia's Sprint Queen when she won her heat in the 100m at 11.77 seconds.

Gatchalian also cited that from 1987 until 2020, de Vega held the Philippine Record in the 100m at 11.28 seconds. From 1987 until 2019, she held the National 200m Record for 32 years at 23.35 seconds. Her National and National Junior Record in the 400m stood from 1981 to 2013. As of December 2020, de Vega still holds two Philippine Records in the 60m Indoor and 200m Junior Women's.

"Throughout her stellar career, Lydia de Vega-Mercado not only ruled the race tracks, she also won the hearts of Filipinos for her world-class talent. Her victories in the sports of track and field rallied our country, bringing it in the limelight of world sports competition and giving our countrymen a great sense of national pride and honor," Gatchalian said in his resolution.

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Gatchalian naghain ng resolusyon bilang pagpupugay kay Lydia de Vega

Naghain si Senador Win Gatchalian ng isang resolusyong nagpapaabot ng pakikiramay sa pagpanaw ni Lydia de Vega-Mercado na nakilala bilang Asia's Fastest Woman noong dekada otchenta.

Sa Proposed Senate Resolution No. 132, inalala ni Gatchalian kung paano nakilala si de Vega bilang pinakamaliksing babae sa Asya o "undisputed fastest woman in Asia."

Binigyang diin din ni Gatchalian kung paano nagsisilbing inspirasyon si de Vega sa mas nakababatang henerasyon ng mga Pilipinong atleta, kabilang ang mga batang babae, na nais malagpasan ang mga naitalang records at mga balakid na kinakaharap nila.

Mula 1981, nakapag-uwi si de Vega ng labing-limang medalyang ginto mula sa iba't ibang mga pandaigdigang kompetisyon. Nakilala rin siya bilang Olympian na lumahok sa 1984 at 1988 Olympic games.

Noong 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games na ginanap dito sa bansa, sinimulan ni de Vega ang kanyang mahaba at matagumpay na karera bilang atleta nang maiuwi niya ang mga 200m at 400m golds. Sa 1982 Asian games naman sa New Delhi, India, sinimulan ni de Vega ang pagsulong ng kanyang karera bilang Asia's Sprint Queen nang maipanalo niya ang 100m sa loob lamang ng halos labindalawang (11.77) segundo.

Mula 1987 hanggang 2020, hawak ni de Vega ang Philippine Record na mahigit labing-isang (11.28) segundo sa 100m. Mula 1987 hanggang 2019, hinawakan niya rin ang National 200m Record sa loob lamang ng dalawampu't tatlong (23.35) segundo. Nagtagal mula 1981 hanggang 2013 ang kanyang National Junior Record sa 400m. Buhat noong Disyembre 2020, hawak pa rin ni De Vega ang dalawang Philippine Records sa 60m Indoor at 200m Junior Women's.

"Sa kanyang makasaysayang karera, hindi lamang sa race track nanguna si Lydia de Vega-Mercado, nagwagi rin siya sa puso ng mga Pilipino dahil sa kanyang world-class talent. Binuhayan niya ng loob ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa kanyang mga panalo sa track and field, dinala niya ang kanyang talento sa pandaigdigang entablado, at binigyan niya ng dangal ang ating bayan," ani Gatchalian.