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Hidilyn Diaz can be called a CERTIFIED overseas Filipino (OF) because she has left the Philippines many times to train in weightlifting and compete in various countries.
She has traveled to America, London, Brazil, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia-countries where many OFs work and venture for their families left behind in the Philippines.
Before she competed in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Hidilyn spent more than a year in Malaysia to train. It was there that he was locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an event that tested her resilience.
“Tuwing naaalala ko yung challenges na pinagdaanan ko at ng aking team sa Malaysia, talagang naiiyak ako eh. Napakahirap magpalipat-lipat ng lugar doon para lang hindi matigil ang aking training. Ang taas ng anxiety kase iniisip namin saan kami titira, saan kami pupunta, at saan ako mag-te-training?” Hidilyn recalls.
There are also times when she would just cries and asks herself: Ano ba itong hinaharap ko ngayon? Di ko na yata alam kung paano solusyunan. Despite this, Hidilyn convinced herself that she could pass the tests and that everything would be okay.
How did he survive?
“Iba kapag may nakakausap ka. May kasangga ako hindi lang yung coaching team ko kundi pati na rin friends ko. Napakalaking tulong nila. At syempre, hindi mawawala ang inspirasyon na galing sa aking pamilya at ang prayers ko kay God,” said the Olympic gold medalist.
Hidilyn is aware that her story is no different from the story of the OFs. It is said that the people abroad are experiencing even more severely, especially when the pandemic started. Some have stopped working but still do not return to the Philippines because they are thinking about their family situation and others are doubling down to increase their income-something that Hidilyn admires among fellow Filipinos.
“We take it day-by-day and we continue with our dreams. Talagang akma yung linyang we find ways eh. Hindi ka dapat bumitaw kase may paraan para maitawid ang buhay,” paliwanag pa nya.” she explained.
Even though the world’s battle with the pandemic is not over, Hidilyn still believes that a happy ending will come as well. “Ang challenge naman hindi binibigay kung hindi kayang lagpasan. Kaya advice ko sa ating mga kabayan, tuloy lang ang buhay. Kayang-kaya ‘yan kabayan!”
