Tabal (CDN FILE)
CEBUANA Olympian and Southeast Asian Games women’s marathon gold medalist Mary Joy Tabal visited her hometown in Barangay Guba, Cebu City, last Thursday to check on the progress of the members of her grassroots team.
But what was supposed to be a simple visit turned out to be a fiesta as she was welcomed like a superstar not just by the students of Guba Elementary School but also the entire barangay.
“Nalipay ko kay grabe kaayo ilang pag-welcome sa akoa. Mura ko nabungog. Gi-atangan jud ko nila and galaray jud sila sa tibuok kalsada na mura jud ug ga parade sa tibuok Guba,” said Tabal.
Tabal repaid the kids with a pep talk to inspire them.
“Ako lang sila ge-encourage na possible tanan basta maningkamot lang. Through sports, nakahuman kog eskwela and nakab-ot naku ako pangandoy maski pa sa kalisud sa kahimtang namu sauna.”
Tabal added that it made her happy seeing her grassroots kids again.
“It makes me feel good to know that they became even more inspired after my SEA Games win. Kugihan na kaayo sila mag training ron.”
Tabal also visited her grassroots kids in Liloan, northern Cebu.
DSOS Run
Today, members of her grassroots program in Guba, Liloan, and Sisters of Mary Girls and Boystown will be joining the Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. (DSOS) run, a race that catapulted Tabal to where she is now.
It can be recalled that it was in this run eight years ago where Tabal collapsed upon reaching the finish line.
Tabal and her coach John Philip Dueñas have set a goal for each runner in the DSOS run. They set a qualifying mark for them and whoever makes it will be awarded with a trip to Bohol to join in the Milo Marathon Regional eliminations.
“Amo sila gihatagan ug challenge aron maningkamot g’yud sila. We want to bring them to Bohol so they could experience a huge running event before they could join the Milo National Finals in Cebu in December,” said Tabal.
Meanwhile, Hon. Orlan Herrera, Barangay Captain of Barangay Guba, Cebu City, said that the people from Guba expressed how proud they are of Tabal and came out to greet, welcome and congratulate her.
He added that there is now added pressure for Guba to produce another world-caliber athlete just like Tabal.
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