Elma Muros to Palaro athletes: Don’t waste time

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – Time is fleeting, don’t waste it. 

That’s the advice Filipino track and field legend Elma Muros offered to the rising athletes of Palarong Pambansa in its 58th edition here.

“Ang mapapayo ko sa mga bata huwag nila sayangin yung buhay nila kasi ang sarap maging athlete,” said the former 15-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) gold medalist, who was one of 19 torch bearers at the Palaro opening ceremony.

“Grab the opportunity at mag-aral kasi hindi habang buhay [ito],” she added. “Lahat ng bagay may katapusan. [Katulad ko] ito na ako ngayon. Tapos na ang career ko, pero nagmo-motivate and tumutulong na lang sa kabataan.” 

(My advice to the kids is don’t waste their lives because it is so good to be an athlete. Grab the opportunity and study because this won’t last forever. Everything has an end. Like me, this is me now. My career is over, but I’m motivating and helping the youth.)

Muros, 48, is a Palaro alumna herself, having played in the country’s largest annual sporting event from 1981 to 1983.

She admitted returning to Palaro, which is a multi-sports competition for primary and secondary student-athletes in the Philippines, brought back plenty of fond memories, along with a renewed determination to inspire the next generation of athletes. 

“Talagang memorable sa akin itong Palaro kasi ito yung nagbigay ng buhay sa akin,” she spoke in high spirits. “Hindi ko inisip na ganito na pala hahantong ang buhay ko, na ganito na pala kasikat. I’m proud talaga na naging part ako ng Palarong Pambansa.”

(Palaro is truly memorable to me because it gave me my life now. I never thought my life would end up the way it did, that I’d be famous. I’m very proud to have been a part of Palarong Pambansa.)

Elma Muros, former PH 15-time SEAG gold medalist, talks of her start at Palaro + advice to young athletes #Palaro2015 pic.twitter.com/F5Bed5fxtk

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) May 2, 2015

Muros is a true hero and role model to the up-and-comers at Palaro because it was beneath the same unforgiving sun many years ago that she first began realizing her dreams. 

“Kahit ako kasi dito ako nagsimula. Hindi ko ine-expect na magiging ganito ang buhay ko na aangat ng aangat,” she reflected. (I also started here. I did not expect that my life would be like this, that I would keep rising.)

She recalled her greatest feat at the time: defeating prized Filipino runner Lydia De Vega.

“Dito ko rin natalo si Ms Lydia De Vega sa Palarong Pambansa sa Tacloban. Kaya nag-boom din ang pangalan ko.” (This is where I beat Ms Lydia De Vega during the Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban. That’s when my name boomed.) 

De Vega, a two-time Olympian, was considered as Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s, bagging gold medals in the 1981 SEA Games and the 1982 Asian Games. But back home, Muros pulled off an upset against De Vega during her last Palaro in 1983 in Tacloban.

“Noon pa man nangangarap na akong matalo siya kasi idol ko talaga si Ms Lydia de Vega. Sabi ko kahit hindi ko siya matalo, at least makahabol man lang ako sa kanya.” (I’ve long dreamed of beating her because she is my idol. But I told myself, it’s alright if I don’t beat her but I want to match up with her.) 

Muros, also a two-time Olympian and a two-time Asiad medalist, participated in the 100 and 200 meter events as well as long jump at Palaro. 

“Nothing is impossible for the young ones,” she reiterated her encouragement for athletes to use sports as a means to a better life. 

“Kailangan huwag silang maging tamad dito sa Palarong Pambansa. Mag-ensayo silang mabuti kasi dito nakikita at nagre-recruit ang mga universities.” (They should not be lazy here at Palarong Pambansa. They must train hard because this is where universities recruit.)

It’s not just college waiting for Palaro’s student-athletes. They can also have a shot at playing for flag and country.

“Galing din ako sa Palaro so high morale yun sa mga kabataan na dito pala sa Palaro makaka-produce ng training pool for national teams sa iba ibang sports,” said Muros, who now helps the national squad with recruitment. (I came from Palaro so there’s high morale among the youth that Palaro can produce members of the training pool for national teams for various sports.) 

No stranger to hardships and disappointments, Muros understands what sports can do to turn life around. Sports helped her, and she hopes it will smile upon another deserving Palaro athlete as well, perhaps one of those competing this year. 

“Kaya kailangan mag-pursigi sila. Huwag sila maging tamad, dapat magsumikap sila para dito rin aahon ang buhay nila. Sa pamamagitan ng sports, harapin nila yung hirap ng buhay. Hindi ganoon kadali maging champion, paghirapan niyo.” (They need to work hard. Don’t be lazy, they need to be persistent because this can change their life. Through sports, they can face life’s challenges. It’s not easy to become a champion, work for it.) – Rappler.com