THE date was November, 1977.

The place: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The event: the 9th Southeast Asian Games.

Few people would have probably guessed they were looking at history when the 25-year-old pride of Tubod, Surigao del Norte was to become one of the country’s greatest track and field stars of all time.

If someone had told them that they ⁰ become the queen of javelin throw in all of Southeast Asia, they would have laughed.

“Who in the world was that?,” an adoring but perflexed Malaysian official must have asked a then smiling former Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Jose Sering.

Someone named Erlinda Lavandia of the Philippines was the quick answer.

Well, Lavandia, the undisputed “Queen of Javelin Throw”, is now 71.

A retired police colonel, she is now quietly living the good life in Baguio City.

But Lavandia — bless her heart– is still out there in her field of dreams tirelessly — desperately even — trying to find the next Erlinda Lavandia.

“Keep dreaming. Focus on what you want to achieve in life. You can overcome whatever difficulties as long as you work hard,” said Lavandia when asked for her advise to youngsters during the special “Women’s Month” episode of “Sports on Air” via Zoom last March 31.

“At 70 (turning 71 on April 9), I am thankful to the Lord that I am still physically and mentally fit,” added Lavandia, who has been living at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City since 1979.

Lavandia, the eldest and the only athlete among eight children of Pedro Lavandia Sr. and Eutequia Bacasnot, believes that age has no limitations.

“If you ask me, I follow a simple formula in life. I call it my 3Ds — dedication, determination and discipline. All these years, yan na ang sinusunod kong formula,” said Lavandia, who is also the vice-president of the National Masters and Seniors Athletics Association of the Philippines (NMSAAP).

Last September, Lavandia captured the gold medal in shot put and silver medal in hammer throw and discus throw in the women’s 65 years old category in 20th Asia Masters Athletic Championship Rugao, China:

Two months later, Lavandia ruled the javelin throw, discus throw, hammer throw and shot put events at the Philippine Masters International Athletics Championships held on Nov. 11-12 in Philsports in Pasig City.

And last December, Lavandia completed a sweep in all throw events – javelin, shot put, discus throw, and hammer throw in the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Association. in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. She brought home three medals — two golds in javelin throw and one silver in discus throw and shot put.

“Even at my age, I always give my best, do my best in every competition. Every victory is special for me because I know that I’m doing it for our country.”

In the 1977 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Lavandia emerged as the lone gold medal winner for the Philippines in the six-nation meet dominated by Burma (16 golds), Malaysia (11) and Thailand (9).

She threw the javelin to 45.22 meters against 41.98 of Chu Kim Tee of Singapore and Isutjiati of Indonesia.

The rest of the Filipino track and field team, which uncluded Susano Erang and Consueloa Lacusong, managed only six silvers and five bronzes.

Her golden campaign continued in the 1979 SEA Games in Jakarta with a heave of 45.78 meters and 1981 SEA Games in Manila with a throw of 46.20 meters.

Lavandia capped her reign with another gold medal-winning performance at the 1985 SEA Games in Bangkok. She recorded 47.96 meters to edge the Thai pair of Pulsap Plupplee (45.18) and Sathit Peunsen ( 38.54).

Then came the Masters.

“I was able to join the Masters tournaments in both world and continental competitions.because the age eligibility is 35 years old and above,” said Lavandia, a three-time World Masters champion.

Presently, Lavandia bagged 12 gold medals at the Asian Masters from 1992 to 2016.

Before getting hooked on athletics, Lavandia also tried other sports.

Baseball was one of them.

“Actually, my first sport was baseball, I was a catcher. I also played volleyball. Then I tried athletics. My first coach was Lotheo Seftimo, a PE teacher from Surigao Del Norte School of Arts and Trade where I studied after graduating from high school,” recalled Lavandia, who counts the late Asia’s sprint champion Lydia de Vega nd Elma Muros as among her idols.

“I liked athletics because I saw the opportunity to help my family, since I am the eldest of the siblings. So I kept my focus on athletics,” stressed Lavandia, who has collected nine SEA Games medals, six gold medals at the ASEAN Meet, and nine gold medals in various Invitational tournamentsstar-studded Gintong Alay national team from 1972 to 1997.

“Through athletics, I was able to lift my family out of poverty and help send my siblings to school,” she said.

“If I didn’t become an athlete, I wouldn’t have finished my education and I wouldn’t have become a police officer. I would probably be a typical farmer in our province.”

Asked about her meteoric rise to superstardom, Lavandia credited the late Gov. Sering, who recruited her for the national team during her senior year in high school in 1972.

Sering, then PATAFA presidentr, was impressed with Lavandia, who won the gold medal in the javelin throw at the Northern Mindanao Meet in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and the Palarong Pambansa in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

“I got into the national team because of Gov. Sering. He saw my unique strength. He developed my talent and pushed me to be the best,” recalled Lavandia, who also won the gold medal at the Pesta Sukan Meet in Singapore, her first international tournament.

When asked to comment on the bigger allowances and incentives given by the government to current athletes, Lavandia said today’s athletes.should be happy

“I am happy for our athletes now because I know the money is a big help to their families,” saidLavandia, who thanked former Gintong Alay head and now Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and his four commisisoners, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and Benguet Governor Melchor Daguines Diclas.

“Back then, my incentive was small but I was happy and contented. Athletes should always appreciate what they receive, whether big or small.” with reports from Jean Malanum/Philippine News Agency