The Late Lydia De Vega-Mercado's Athletic Achievements Show Why Competition Is Good

It was a sad say indeed when Lydia De Vega-Mercado died of breast cancer after some time. She finally left the world at the young age of 57. I remembered back in elementary when she was taught among the great Filipino athletes. Sadly, so many Filipinos only saw her accomplishments but NEVER her struggles. GMA-7 showed a Magpakailanman episode which featured Princess Punzalan as Lydia in an episode. I never saw the episode but the trailer showed one thing - NO SUCCESS WITHOUT A STRUGGLE!

Some Filipinos tend to shout "PENOY PRAYD!" to the success of their countrymen WHILE they hate competition in their own country. Lydia NEVER won the medals she won automatically. Instead, she competed many times before she achieved. She went across competition to competition before she had her awards. Though, she finally gave up from active competition in 1994 to focus on her family. 

Try reading her impressive biography before her well-deserved retirement from active competition from Pinoy Athletics. She has her struggles which was like her pulled muscle, various defeats in the international competition, and the struggle. She wasn't an overnight champion. Lydia even said of her father's strict discipline. For her, the challenge was there and she had sheer determination. She faced the athletes from various Asian nations before she became Asia's fastest woman. 

Do you think Lydia would immediately pull it off? Just imagine if she just had sheltered competition. Just imagine if she refused to face competition. Instead, she decided to face competition which allowed her to encounter different opponents. The road to becoming Asia's fastest woman was to compete with other nations. It's that competition that made her great. This is a quote by her which I believe we can all learn from:

This I learned from being an athlete; no matter what adversities atrocities towards my name, it will not stop me from becoming what I intend to be.

Lydia faced it on and showed how she can make it. She faced off against a lot of Asian athletes. She faced defeat from Asian athletes. Then she became Asia's fastest woman. There's no real victory without a struggle. It's like there's no weight loss until one does exercise programs. There's no improvement without trying.

This makes me think that the Philippine business environment can learn the same. More competition will encourage Filipino businesses to either do better or perish. Jollibee had to face off against American fast food chains. Now, Jollibee is a worldwide success. If we want a better Philippines - we need to accept COMPETITION like the late athlete did.