“Salain natin ng mabuti ang mga atleta. Piliin lang natin ang nararapat at bigyan natin ng ating buong suporta,” said De Vega, one of Gintong Alay’s foremost products.
Created by the late President Ferdinand Marcos in 1979 with the sole objective of training and preparing a select group of athletic stars, Gintong Alay eventually branched out to include other sports.

It was abolished following the ouster of Marcos and replaced by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

De Vega said that while government support to sports has expanded with the creation of the P400 million-a-year commission, the training of athletes leaves much to be desired.

“Mas maganda kung mag concentrate tayo doon sa may ibubuga lang. Hindi kailangan ng marami,” said De Vega who rose to fame during the 1981 Southeast Asian Games in Manila where she won the gold medal in the century dash.

De Vega credited Gintong Alay’s success to the hands-on leadership of executive-director Michael Keon.

“Mahigpit si Mr. Keon pero nakabuti para sa lahat. Kaunti lang kami, pero lahat gold medalist pag uwi galing sa abroad,” she recalled.

Based in Baguio City, Gintong Alay athletes, numbering less than 20, trained day in and day out under Keon’s supervision.

“Lahat ng kailangan naming binigay. Pati mga lapis at notebooks naming sa pag-aaral. Maliit lang ang allowance naming noon, P500 lang pero alaga kami,” said De Vega.

Despite her much-publicized spats with Keon, De Vega cited the former sports strongman for pushing them to reach their potentials.

De Vega went on to win gold medals in two Asian Games before injuries led to her retirement in the early 90’s.

Now 46, De Vega is now based in Singapore where she works as a teacher and coach in a primary school for the last six years.

Given a chance, De Vega said she’s willing to help Philippine athletics as coach or whatever capacity.

“Kung sa sweldo ang issue, napapag-usapan naman yan. Nasa pag-uusap yon, but I’m very much willing to help the Philippine team,” said Mercado during a rare public appearance at the SCOOP sa Kamayan Forum Friday.

De Vega returned to the country last week following the death of her father and coach Tatang De Vega.

Lack of opportunities at home had forced De Vega to seek greener pastures.

“Nakakalungkot talaga, but what can I do? Besides, maganda ang offer sa ibang bansa na hindi matanggihan,” said Mercado, a multiple gold medalists at the Southeast Asian Games.

Before going to Singapore, De Vega acted as consultant during the country’s preparations for the 2005 Manila SEAG, but her contract was not renewed after the event.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia said the sports agency is more than willing to have Mercado as one of the national coaches of the national team, but the initial move has to come from the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

Kristel Satumbaga, Manila Bulletin