Jedah Mae Soriano —MARC REYES
For Rep. Mikee Romero, it’s for an absent son. For 19-year-old Jedah Mae Soriano, it’s for present parents.
The two athletes will have a lot of inspiration when they seek golds in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which gets going on Nov. 30.
“I’m super confident,” said Soriano, who will compete in front of her parents in an elite competition for the first time since taking up arnis when she was in Grade 3.
Romero, meanwhile, had wanted to compete with son Miguel in the SEA Games. That will forever be a dream. Miguel passed away on Dec. 14, 2017, at the young age of 22.
He gets to play, however, on a field named after his son after organizers scheduled the tournament on Miguel Romero Polo Field in Calatagan, Batangas.
“Just like me, Miguel was athletic and he wanted to represent the country that’s why I’m thankful [to organizers] for Miguel finally realized his wish,” said Romero.
Soriano has been teased about her good looks with many suggesting she pursue a career in show business. But she has set her sights on a tougher goal.
“Show biz, it’s okay. But I would like to serve in military,” added the senior high school graduate. “But my main goal now is to win the gold medal.”
Soriano will compete in the 50-55 kilogram division of padded sticks, hoping to help arnis win as many as 11 golds in competitions slated Dec. 1 to 3 at Angeles University Foundation.
Romero is part of the national team that will compete in the 0-2 goals event starting Dec. 3.
He, too, hopes to fuel the country’s medal machine and, like Soriano, will have plenty of inspiration to do so.
“I’ll dedicate all our games to Miguel, he should have been playing here,” said Romero.