Filipina pencak silat athlete Mary Francine Padios won the country’s first gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam as she drew motivation from her father who is currently in a coma.
The 18-year-old pride of Kalibo, Aklan defeated Indonesia’s Puspa Arum Sari, with a score of 9,960, during the women’s seni tunggal single-category finals held at the Bac Tu Liem Gymnasium.
“My dad has become my inspiration after he figured in a terrible car accident on her way home in Aklan just before Christmas,” said Padios.
In November 2021, Padios started her bubble training for the SEA Games in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
A week before Christmas, her mother Donesa said her dad had a car accident. Her father, Jerome Padios, a lawyer and breadwinner of their family, was on his way home from Iloilo when his car smashed into a passenger bus. He had unfortunately fallen asleep while driving, Padios narrated.
“He was so exhausted and drowsy from work he slept before the wheel and met the accident,” Padios said, adding that her father was operated on and fell into a coma.
“He’s been motivating me ever since,” she said.
Last month, Padios took to Facebook to ask for donations to cover her father’s expenses.
“It’s heartbreaking seeing my father in this state, but we are doing everything to pay our expenses. Sadly, it’s still too much,” she wrote.
“Kahit konting amount po ay makakatulong po ito sa amin. Agad agad po ako ay nag papasalamat sainyo. Higit pa sa sapat ang naibigay niyong tulong,” she added.
The young athlete also provided accounts where concerned netizens can send their donations: “BPI: 1459101955 (Doneza Cezar “My mother”) Gcash: 09285815313 (Mary Francine Padios) Landbank Account: 0456 2761 72 (Mary Francine C. Padios).”
Philsilat Sports Association president Princess Jacel Kiram said Padios’ performance during the finals on May 11 was her best performance despite what her family has been going through.
“Francine competed with a heavy heart,” Kiram told ANCX. “She was training with a heavy heart.”
The new gold medalist is expected to come home with the rest of the Philippine contingent this week.
“Atty. Jerome Padios, gising ka na. Gold medalist na ako 😢” she said.
Source: Daily Guardian