Through sports, you can reach for your dreams.Collection: Sports
I think the impact I make is to inspire Filipino female athletes that they can do it as well... A Filipina can be a sports hero.Collection: Sports
If you're not willing to put in the hard work, to endure and fail, there's no point. You win only if you're willing to do whatever it takes.Collection: Work
But I'm thankful that God used me to inspire all the young generation and all the Philippines people to keep fighting during this pandemic.Collection: Thankful
Be who you are. Don't be afraid to show your uniqueness.
During the times I wanted to give up because of all the challenges I faced, we did it. We Filipinos can do it.
Deep in my heart, I know I can surpass my personal best and win the gold but there are circumstances that are just unavoidable.
My father was a tricycle driver before, then he became a farmer and a fisherman.
Winning gold was never easy. It only became easier because of the people with me.
I have to continue until there's another Filipino following in my footsteps.
I want to say this to all Filipinos: nothing is impossible.
Struggles? I think it's natural if you want to do something extraordinary.
My mum didn't want me to do weightlifting because the sport is for men.
It's a must for us to get higher education since athletes seem to be contended with being good in training and in their events, happy where they are. But I try to change that mindset, let them be aware of other things and grow as a person.
I need to continue inspiring the young generation.
I see other athletes who reached a dead end in their careers for lack of good education.
My mum supported me after she saw I was doing good in weightlifting, I was able to get a scholarship, I was able to help them.
Sometimes we didn't eat, we could not buy food for six siblings... That's how it was.
When you do weightlifting, the misconception there is you won't get pregnant, you won't get tall, you won't marry anyone because you'll get so bulky or you'll get so big. You'll get a lot of muscle and no one's going to love you for having that.
I miss my mom and her food.
Athletes are people too, we go through a lot of things, but it all became easier when there was someone who could guide and counsel.
I'm the breadwinner in my family.
I don't know if I'm a national hero.
Maybe God brought me here to inspire the youth to engage in sports and teach them the value of sports.
I am looking more at being a sports leader someday to have more influence with the youth and to hopefully spread weightlifting across the country.
There are many roles of a coach. You will be the parent and will take responsibility over the athlete.
I am merely doing my best to represent the Philippines in weightlifting.
I sacrificed a lot. I wasn't able to be with my mother and father for how many months and years and then of course, training was excruciating.
I just want to say that we Filipino are strong.
We Filipino can compete here at the Olympics. We can do it.
To all the young generation in the Philippines, please dream high.
For me, even if there's an audience or not, I'm happy.
I never played in Palarong Pambansa.
I've proven that Filipino weightlifters can win a medal in the Olympics.
With the help of the local government units (LGU) there's a chance weightlifting will be reintroduced again in Palarong Pambansa.
There's no weightlifting event in Palaro, that's why I'm going here, hoping they consider including weightlifting again.
When God gave me the chance to compete in the Rio Olympics, I thought that He gave me the chance and I needed to give it my all.
I surrendered everything to God.
I couldn't believe I did it... at last I beat China.
When I win a gold medal in the Olympics... I would say every pain, tears and screams in training will be worth it.
I can't eat sugar and sweets. I miss eating cheesecake and drinking bubble tea with friends.
The sacrifices you make are so hard when you're training every day.
I just need to know my technique and visualize it.
My main goal is to help out kids in my hometown and realize their dream in weightlifting.
We are not rich and my family depended on me.
Whatever earnings I got from winning this silver medal, part will be used for my college education.
The best of the best are in the Olympics, all of the athletes work hard to get there.
Now, thanks to weightlifting, our life in Zamboanga changed. I was able to buy land for my sibling and for my gym. I was able to help my family and kids who grew up without a home.
For me, it's a big deal to compete in the Olympics because it's so tough to qualify.
I think it's a great accomplishment. Qualifying for the Olympics once is already hard enough now I'm about to compete in my fourth, especially now that we are in the middle of the pandemic.