Loren lauds Filipina boxers’ efforts in Laos

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA TODAY EXPRESSED ELATION OVER THE PROMISING START BY THREE FILIPINA BOXERS IN THE 25TH SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES IN LAOS, SAYING “IT WAS A MANIFESTATION OF RP WOMEN’S VAST POTENTIAL IN THE SPORT THAT’S USUALLY RESERVED FOR MALE ATHLETES.”
While the victories by Alice Kate Aparri, Josie Gabuco and Annie Albania were still in preliminary stage of boxing competition in Laos, Loren nonetheless called their performance a feat already, as well as that of the fourth Filipina in Mitchell Martinez who advanced to the next round.
“They have shown that Filipino women, like our noted male boxers, are a force to reckon with in the combative sport like boxing,” noted Loren as she reacted to the Filipinas making headlines with their victories.
What particularly impressed Loren was the fact that the victories by Aparri, Gabuco and Albania actually provided a sort of “saving grace” for an embattled Philippine team which ended the day’s grind last Saturday with bruised ego after absorbing setbacks in many fronts in Laos.
“It’s really interesting to note that our Filipina boxers’ triumphs kept the Philippine team in high spirits despite setbacks in other sports competitions in Laos,” said Loren, a noted advocate of women empowerment and vice-presidential candidate of Nacionalista Party and National People’s Coalition.
Loren also said that while it is not definite yet what awaits the Filipina boxers in the ongoing boxing competition, she nevertheless maintained that their preliminary victories should be enough for our sports officials to get down to work and try to discover more Filipina talents who, she added, could bring honor to the country.
“Now that we know that our very own Filipina athletes have potentials waiting to be tapped in boxing, our officials must not fall into a sort of ningas cogon, otherwise we will be bound to failure,” she said.
The RP female pugs became an instant toast last Saturday after they scored big victories in their preliminary bouts, with Kate Appari stopping Ngo Thi Phuong of Vietnam in the first round of their light flyweight match at the National University’s Booyong Gymnasium in Laos.
Josie Gabuco followed suit, beating Kyu Kyu Thin of Myanmar, 6-1, in the pinweight category while Annie Albania, the Asian titlist, thumped Hnin Moh Mo Naing of Myanmar in the flyweight category with a 7-0 victory.
, thumped Hnin Moh Mo Naing of Myanmar in the flyweight category with a 7-0 victory.