Dispatch from Crame No. 665:
On John Chicano, the former janitor turned sports hero

12/7/19

John Chicano did not only give us our 1st gold medal as a world-class triathlete in the 30th South East Asian Games. He also gave us a story of hope that we can all hold on to, especially in these times when stories of woe and despair abound.

Isa na naman itong patunay na ang mga taong nakakaranas ng malalakas na hagupit ng buhay--iyong mga kababayan nating nasasantabi at nasa laylayan--ay may kakayahang bumangon at magtagumpay. Dumarating man ang mga pagsubok at panghihina ng loob, makakaya pa rin nating sumulong at magawai basta may determinasyon at tiwala sa sarili.

Chicano's struggle as a janitor raising his own family is the story of every ordinary Filipino who is trying to make it in a world where opportunities come rarely to those who need it most. His triumph would be their narrative too, should they be given access to the necessary resources to make it.

Ang kanyang kuwento ay patunay na ang bawat buhay ay maaring maging balon ng pag-asa at tagumpay kung kaya't hindi dapat sinasayang, bagkus ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon upang mamuhay nang malaya at may dignidad, kaakibat ng lahat ng oportunidad upang makalaban nang patas sa buhay.

Mabuhay ka, John Chicano! Maraming salamat sa inspirasyon. Ikaw at ang mga katulad mo ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa marami nating mga kababayan.

(Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 665, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_665)