By MARK REY MONTEJO
Paris-bound boxers Nesthy Petecio and Hergie Bacyadan are glad and proud to represent the Philippines while carrying the rainbow flag in the coming Paris Olympics.
Petecio, who is competing in her final Olympic, has no qualms being a member of LBGTQ that she even dedicates each fight to their group.
For those who don’t know, the rainbow flag is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, and the group, led by gay artist Gilbert Baker, believes it is very ideal as a symbol because it is found in nature.
“Proud po ako maging member [ng LGBTQI community] at gaya ng sinabi ko dati inaalay ko rin po sa kanila ‘yong laban ko sa Tokyo,” Petecio stressed.
“Marami ako ngayong pinag-aalayan lang laban ko rito sa Paris kasi parang ito na ‘yong parang final destination ng career ko,” she added.
The 32-year-old Tokyo Olympics silver medalist is engaged with her partner Riza Geneblaza in 2022.
Bacyadan is like thrilled to being one of them.
“Proud po na napabilang kami sa dito sa gaganaping Paris Olympics [at] syempre kung gaano po kami ka-proud sa sarili namin ganun din kami ka-proud sa kanila,” said the Kalinga native.
“Syempre parang kami rin ‘yong tinitignan nila na nandun para magperform ng maayos,” she added.
Petecio (women’s featherweight) and Bacyadan (women’s middleweight) will vie along with fellow boxers Aira Villegas (women’s flyweight), Carlo Paalam (men’s featherweight), and Eumir Marcial (men’s middleweight) in the Paris Games.
There are 15 Filipino athletes who are so far qualified for the global sporting spectacle set July 26 to Aug. 12.
