Support pours for Lydia

You can’t let a good man or woman down. Stephanie Mercado Kosingswarter, track icon Lydia De Vega’s daughter, announced the other Tuesday that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office gave a monetary assistance of P500,000 to help defray the mounting hospital expenses of the ailing Diay (Lydia’s nickname). Diay is currently confined at the ICU unit of the Makati Medical Center for complications of her Stage 4 breast cancer and is still in “critical condition”. Kosingswarter nicknamed “Paneng”, a former La Salle Lady Spiker in the UAAP, said her mom sleeps most of the time and at times, unresponsive. Earlier, pole vaulter EJ Obiena who finished third in the World Athletics Championship said he is donating his incentive from the PSC of P250,000 while his advisor James Lafferty and wife Carol, a nutritionist, also will donate P250,000. Also giving P250,000 is Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascarinas. What hearts of gold!  To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, instructed the Philippine Sports Commission to assist Diay. Diay, now 57, was first diagnosed in 2018 and has been fighting the disease for the past four years. She also had brain surgery. Diay used to be Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s, winning two Asian gold medals and set a national record in the 100m (11.28), which was unbroken for 33 years. She was also was a two-time Olympian representing  the country in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1988 Seoul Olympiad. Please continue praying for Diay.

Pasig nips Iloilo

Pasig King Pirates had to pass into the eye of the needle as they nipped powerhouse Iloilo Kisela Knights via Armageddon in the PCAP Wesley So Cup Tournament to win the championship.  Pasig defeated the Knights in the first match 12.5-8.5, but Iloilo got back at the Pirates in the second match, wining 15.5-5.5. This set the stage for the Armageddon. Iloilo’s GM Hovhannes Gabuyzan won against GM Mark Paragua, who made waves in the 44th Chess Olympiad in India, when he defeated Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda,World Cup titlist and world’s number 18. GM Joey Antonio and Karl Ochoa lost to Kevin Arquero and Eric Labog respectively. Pasig thus won 2-1 to snatch the crown. Iloilo was expected to win the title with the absence of GM  Darwin Laylo and IM Paulo Bersamina who, together with Paragua, are currently playing in the India Chess Olympiad.