FOR someone who grew up hearing gunfires and living through armed conflicts in Zamboanga City, 26-year-old Hidilyn Diaz went around Davao City with ease Thursday sans police escort. This, despite the martial law declaration in Mindanao and the hold and secure situation in the city.
"Alam ko kung gaano kagulo sa Zamboanga, naririnig ko parati ang barilan at patayan. Despite ganun, binago ko pangalan nang Barangay Mampang bilang lugar ng Olympic medalist. Dapat kasi hindi sa negative side ng buhay tayo tumingin, tulad ng sports kasi ito nakakapag-isa talaga ng mga tao. Life must go on," Diaz said in an interview.
She along with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez started their day early as they guested at ABS-CBN's Maayong Buntag Mindanao where they promoted the Summer Children's Games 2017, which opened at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center yesterday, then had their breakfast with children volunteers of Barangay 24-C led by barangay captain Jupiter Jorgio at McDonalds NCCC Mall, Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) Mindanao coordinator Marlon Malbog and PSI Davao City coordinator Mark Paul Samante.
From there, Diaz joined Ramirez at the opening of the games. She reminisced her colorful journey as an athlete, sharing to some 500 participants of the Summer Children's Games 2017 the many opportunities that came her way since engaging herself in sports.
"Tulad niyo lang din ako nung nagsimula ako, 11 years old. Nakita ko lang na may nagbubuhat at naisip ko bakit di ko i-try, so nung na-itry ko nasabi ko sa sarili ko masaya pala ang weightlifting kaya naging love ko narin," Diaz said, adding though that in her first competition during the Batang Pinoy Games in Puerto Princesa City, she automatically clinched the gold medal as she had no opponent.
In her second tournament, she settled for silver so Diaz thought she needed to do better so she at last pocketed a gold in her third tournament and earned a spot in the national team. Since then, her life started to change as she got to travel abroad and represent the country in international competitions like the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Asian Games and in three Olympic Games (2016, 2012, 2008).
She added, "Mababago talaga ang perspective ng buhay dahil sa sports. Weightlifting changed my life, sobra!"
She told some 500 participants of the Summer Children's Games that aside from scholarships, she also got a job, travelled around the world, became a commercial model and won a silver in the Olympics that reaped her a harvest of material blessings.
"Sa sports magbabago ang buhay nyo, dream high," she told the children 12 years old and below, adding that they must grab the opportunity that the Summer Children's Games is giving them.
She also said that sports will give the children positive outlook, discipline and right attitude to help them through life.
This, too, was reiterated by Ramirez when he said that the participants must live out discipline inside and outside the court.
He added, "While armed conflict continues in Marawi, you are all here to play. But this is not just competing, this is a program to unite all of us whether Muslims, Christians or Lumads. Here, it's not important to win but molding the character is more important. You are more important than the country's winning gold in the SEA Games or the Olympics," Ramirez said in the vernacular.
Diaz then had a short trip to Crossfit Madayaw in Matina where her cousin Catalino Diaz is coaching before proceeding to guest with Ramirez at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao. She left immediately after the forum to catch her 2:50 p.m. flight back to Manila as she needed to attend her Accountancy subject set at 6 p.m. at the College of St. Benilde.
"Parang wala naming nagbago ditto sa Davao, parang walang martial law. Normal pa man din ang mga buhay ng mga taga rito. Masaya ri nang time ko sa mga bata, nakakatuwang isipin na maraming magiging potential athletes sa kanila," she added.
Davao City Councilors Antoinette Principe Castrodes, who represented Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Al Ryan Alejandre also graced the opening ceremonies.
In Duterte-Carpio's message, she said, "It is always a delight to see children at play. Let this Summer Games be a celebration of our children's priceless joy and liberty of their childhood."
The mayor also lauded the PSC for the Sports for Peace program through the Children's Games being "a suitable diversion against juvenile delinquency among children".