“BONGGA!”
That was the exact Filipino word that Paris Olympic Games boxing medalist Aira Villegas used to describe the homecoming she expects today in her hometown of Tacloban, Leyte.
“Sa mga nakikita ko pa lang sa social media, bongga talaga na hindi ko inaakalang mangyayari sa aking,” the boxer, who left for the Leyte provincial capital last night, said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum last Tuesday.
The least known among the four Paris Olympic veterans that included Tokyo Summer Games silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, the 29-year-old fighter achieved her breakthrough in the French capital after toiling for 12 years in obscurity as a member of the national team.
Expected to greet her at the airport are House Speaker Martin Romualdez, spouse and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
“Pati ‘yung barangay captain ng Lopez Jaena, may nakahanda na parangal sa akin,” said Villegas of the community where she and her family are living just near the Tacloban City Hall.
Coming from a family of six siblings whose parents are sidewalk vendors, the slightly-built boxer recalled doing odd jobs to augment their income, including being a wash-your-car girl and hawking peanuts.
“Lahat ‘yan katulad ni ate Hidy (weightlifter Hidylin Diaz-Naranjo, who won the country first Olympic gold in the Tokyo Olympics) napagdaanan ko,” Villegas said, smiling.
