ILOCOS Region para tanker Jacquiline Castro will never forget her Palarong Pambansa swan song– aside from winning two golds in the 50-meter backstroke and 50-meter freestyle events, respectively, and a silver medal in 50-meter breaststroke, she got a pleasant surprise on a cold and rainy Wednesday night.
The region’s delegation led by Schools Division Superintendent Sheila Marie Primicias held a party for Castro’s 18th birthday at San Roque Elementary that left the San Carlos City, Pangasinan native in awe.
“Super grateful kasi hindi ko po inaasahan na magde-debut ako and dito pa sa Marikina. Unexpected na sa 18th birthday ko nandito ako,” Castro, a product of Pangalangan National High School, said yesterday.
“Ang akala ko po ay bibili lang ng cake iyong mga kasama ko tapos nagulat po ako na dito pala sa venue gaganapin ang debut ko.
“Sinabi ko po sa coach ko (Emma Abba) na birthday ko and sinabi na po siya sa ibang coaches,” she added.
Having bagged a silver in the 2019 edition of the Games in 2019, Castro’s triumphs in her final stint in the country’s premier joust for elementary and high school students proved to be the sweetest.
“I’m so happy because it was my first time to win medals and sa Palarong Pambansa, bihira lang ang nananalo ng medal kaya sobrang thankful ako,” Castro said.
“May isang coach na nagsabi na, ‘Lipat ka na dito sa swimming.’ Noong lumipat po ako, talagang noon sumali ako ng athletics. Talagang isinasama na po ako sa swimming. Ang pinili ko noon is athletics. Noong una, na-field ako doon, sinubukan ko po iyong swimming hanggang doon ko po na-realize na doon po talaga iyong passion ko. Sobrang thankful kay God and hindi rin ako mananalo kung wala akong tiwala sa sarili ko.
“Inspiration ko rin ang mga coach ko kasi grabe silang mag-alaga and grabe iyong suporta nila sa amin. Nagpapasalamat po talaga ako sa kanila. Kung wala sila, wala ako.”
