THE BEST PRODUCT

Thursday evening, August 11, I happened to watch in the news Olympian Silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz while she strode slowly on her way out of NAIA.  It took only several seconds for me to join basking in her glory with her newly found charisma and right in that instance she was mobbed like an “artista.”

She has been accorded a hero’s welcome, totally unlike the kind given to “Villain” Vhon Tanto by General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa.  The lady weightlifter, an Air Force personnel, was swarmed by grateful greeters led by a group of vultures also known as the media.  Truly, as they say, victory has many fathers, like a harlot’s son.  And like a runaway drug lord or pusher, defeat is an orphan.

It was written all over her determined face, that video clip of Hidilyn’s winning moment says it all, to say the least.  It captured completely how she summoned her last strength to the fullest for all the world to see she truly gave her best.

We must be thankful she didn’t suffer the fate of her young male counterpart from Armenia who twisted and broke his 20-year-old bone and elbow.  It was a heroic effort from him too, we saw what a true competitor would do, Olympic medal is indeed worth the try, even at the expense of an arm or two.

After twenty years, I am so glad there is a Hidilyn Diaz who managed to bring home the bacon in silver platter, so to speak.  The sweet part is, whom she bested for the next best medal was no other than the Chinese, a fake country already at its peak. 

After twenty years, another unknown sports hero saved the day for our athletes out of nowhere.  After twenty years, someone simply showed up in there to be our national pride redeemer.  Her homeplace must be so proud of its best product so far.  For she put it in the Olympic map, making it likewise a star.

And of all places, the graceful but strong Hidilyn’s origin is Zamboanga City of the island of Mindanao, the so-called Land Of Promise.  So who says nothing good has come out of Mindanao just yet?  Certainly, not my friend Zol, who would always find grace in war and peace.

Centuries ago, Nathanael was told that finally seen was Jesus of Nazareth Who was written about by Moses and the prophets.  And similar question had Nathanael likewise been bluntly posited to Philip:  “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46 KJV).

There could, there can, there was, there is, as later Nathanael did discover, and He’s no less than Jesus Christ, his very own Redeemer.  Not quite the good, neither the better, but the best thing to ever come out of Nazareth, not for twenty years, but from there to forever.