Mary Joy Padios, a native of Aklan, won the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi Vietnam as she competed and proved herself an expert in pencak silat, an Indonesian martial art.
Padios said her inspiration is her father, who is currently comatose after a tragic car accident. She mentioned her win would largely support the hospitalization bills of her father.
The Malacañan and the Philippine Sports Commission have expressed their commendations to the 18-year old Filipina who exhibited exemplary performance during the SEA Games.
We congratulate Ms. Mary Joy Padios as her victory is also a big accomplishment for the Filipino people. May her story inspire other Filipinos, especially the youth, in representing and bringing glory to the country in the international arena.