HARD work and determination paid off for Southeast Asian Games pencak silat gold medalist Mary Francine Padios.

The 18-year-old pride of Aklan is now hoping there will be more opportunities for her to perform well and bring more honors to the country.

“Masayang-masaya ako dahil sa panalo kong ito sa pencak silat, lalo na dahil nakapag-bigay ako ng karangalan sa ating bansa,” said Padios during the 21st “Sports On Air” program recently.

“Malaki talagang tulong itong panalo ko. Unang-una, sa father ko na nangangailangan ngayon ng tulong matapos yung aksidente nya bago mag- Christmas. Pati na din sa pencak silat, na hindi pa din gaano popular sa ating mga Pilipino,” added Padios, who delivered the country’s first gold medal in Hanoi by winning the women’s seni (artistic). tunggal single final.

The gold-medal achievement by Padios was a big improvement from her silver- medal finish in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila.

Padios defeated Puspa Arum Sari of Indonesia, 9,960-9,945, in the final to clinch the gold.

The Filipina champion also won over hometown favorite Vuong Thi Binh of Vietnam in the semifinals held at the Bac Tu Liem Sporting Hall.

Padios admitted winning the gold medal — the country’s first in the coronavirus-delayed biennial competition in Vietnam — did not come easy.

“Kung titignan, mahirap po talaga yung mga pinagdaanan namIng mga atleta during the six-month bubble training in Nueva Vizcaya,” explained Padios.

“Sa kagaya ko na medyo baguhan, mahirap din yun mawalay na matagal sa pamilya. Talagang naka-isolate kami sa training at hindi kami nakalalabas. Pero gaya nga ng sinasabi natin ngayon, worth it talaga ang lahat.”

Another difficulty that Padios encountered on her way to the gold medal was a change in the rules in pencak silat

“Talagang nanibago lahat kami dahil sa new rules sa pencak silat. Hindi kagaya ng dati na isang salpakan lang. Ngayon, nag face-to-face kami ng ibang mga countries hanggang maka-akyat sa finals. Kaya talagang masasabi ko na God’s will itong panalo ko, ” recalled Padios.

“Sobra talaga ang saya ko dahil sabi ko, kahit magka-medal lang, ayos na. Tapos yun nga, naka-gold pa ako.”

Asked about her Indonesian opponent in Hanoi, Padios said she was just relieved to beat her.

“Yun nakalaban kong Indonesian, si Puspa, talagang magaling po. Lahat naman sila nakita ko na doon sa 2019 SEA Games pero ang talagang tumatak sa akin ay si Ate Puspa. Lahat naman siguro ang tumatak talaga ay si Puspa kasi matagal na talaga siya sa Seni. Sita yung talagang star. Hindi pa ako sumisipa, nandoon na siya. Kaya sa kanya ako talagang kabado. Pero syempre hindi dapat tayo magpatalo kasi para ito sa bayan at para kay God,” recalled Padios.

Padios said she is dedicating her success to her father Jerome, who met a car accident while on his way home from Iloilo to Aklan.

He has been in intensive care unit of the Iloilo Medical Center since then.

Padios said her cash incentive would be a big help for the family who has been dealing with rising hospital cost.

“I would have loved to talk to him but he’s still in coma until now. Gustong-gusto ko talaga siyang kausapin ngayon. But I know he is proud of me,” said Padios

“Sa ngayon, OK naman po ang recovery nya bagamat hindi pa sya nagigising. Pero mabigat na po talaga sa bulsa. Kaya we are really looking for a financial help. Yung kung sino po pwedeng tumulong. We would like to transfer him to a public hospital para mabawasan din yung expenses. Kailangan lang mabayaran muna yun sa private hospital.”

Philippine Pencak Silat Association (PPSA) president Princess Jacel Kiram, who was among the first to congratulate Padios after her triumph, recalled that the new champion told her that the prize money she would receive would be used to pay the hospital bill of her father.

And based on the incentives act law, Padios will receive P300,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). with reports from Gab Ferreras