Lydia de Vega-Mercado (No. 209) flashes her trademark smile after ruling the women’s 100-meter dash finals in the 1991 Southeast Asian Games. Behind her is Elma Muros-Posadas, who calls the late track heroine “my idol.” ERNIE U. SARMIENTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Olympic Committee will see its museum rise at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac with the late Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega the first to be immortalized.
POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the commitment of keeping the memories of the former track and field superstar alive to De Vega’s daughter, Stephanie Mercado-Koenigswarter, and mother Mary De Vega.
“Lydia’s legacy will forever be remembered. So we, the POC, are planning to put all her achievements on a wall inside the Olympic museum,” said Tolentino when he visited De Vega’s wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Saturday.
De Vega was a dominating figure in Asian athletics during her prime after winning the 100m in the Asian Games twice in 1982 New Delhi and 1986 Seoul, installing her as the fastest woman in the continent at that time.
De Vega had a pair 100m and 200m titles in the Asian championships in Singapore 1983 and Kuwait 1987 plus nine SEA Games gold medals from 1983 to 1987.
“Her achievements in the SEA Games, Asian championships and Asian Games, among others, will be immortalized there in the museum. She’ll be an inspiration to all aspiring athletes,” said Tolentino.
Work on the POC headquarters, which will house the museum, at New Clark City will soon begin, finally giving the local Olympic body its own home.
“This is the first time that the POC will have a home of its own. A museum will aptly highlight this home,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in the wake by POC secretary general for international affairs Bones Floro.
De Vega’s wake will be transferred on Monday to her native Meycauyan, Bulacan where she once served as councilor.
Meanwhile, Tolentino will fly to Bangkok on Monday for a SEA Games Federation Council meeting for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in May 2023.