Feature of the Month
ELMA MUROS - Still Running Strong
Interviewed by Aline Parrone

Born January 14, 1967 in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon to a farming family, she was 6th in a brood of 9. Relatives had already inkling what she was going to be even at young age. Her mother Alice was once a 400-meter runner herself in her youth; and at a young age, Elma loved to jump over plants.

In all these years, Elma remained steadfast and dedicated in her career as an ASEAN or Asian region wide) athlete. And the hard work did not go unrewarded either. She has accumulated more than 200 medals and has been cited by different organizations for the honor she has brought to her country. Asked which is the most special, Elma avers, "Lahat ng medalya ko espesyal sa akin, ginto man o simpleng ribbon lang yan, kasi pinaghirapan ko lahat yan" (All my medals are important, gold or simple ribbon, because I worked hard to get it).

Last September 2001 after finishing bronze at the heptathlon events at the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Elma finally announced her retirement. Long after her erstwhile contemporaries like Lydia de Vega and Isidro del Prado have left the sports world and after 21 years of competition and holding a total of 15 SEA Games gold medals, one of the most by any athlete, she says, "Alam ko na sa isip at katawan ko na pwede pa ako pero tama na. Nakamit ko na ang lahat na pwede kong makamit. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos binigyan ako ng pagkakataong makamit ang mga karangalang ito." (I know in my mind and body that I can still do it but it is over. I have gotten everything I aimed for. I am thankful to the Lord for giving me these chances to get all these medals.)

But she has not giving up sports altogether. Though she is not doing it anymore, she is teaching and sharing her experiences this time. She presently serves as Consultant for Grassroots Level for the Philippine Sports Commission where she discovers and scouts young athletes with potentials from the provinces and other schools. As the head coach for University of the East Women Tracksters, Elma last December 14-17, 2002 propelled her ward to glory by winning the Championship in the women's athletics division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Tournament, dethroning former winner, University of Sto. Tomas. Asked about this feat, Elma says, "Talagang masaya ako kasi natupad na rin yung pangako ko sa UE Administration na kunin naman yung Championship within three years, and our sacrifices paid off." (I am really happy because I fulfilled the promise to the UE Administration to snatch the Championship).

Busy Elma also reveals she derives the same, if not more enjoyment training young students at Brent International School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She says "It is a lot better to teach young kids sometimes because they are just starting and they don't have bad habits to unlearn unlike older wards." But most of all, Elma is a hands-on wife and mother. Even with household help, she makes sure she has a say on the meal planning and how the house is maintained. "I like to fix the house a lot. That is why when I went to Magdiwang for one day last December, all I did was to stay inside the house and fix things there. I also hung some of my sports memorabilia on the walls of our old house so that my relatives and neighbors would get a chance to read my experiences and accomplishments. Later some children and teachers came over and interviewed me."

Being interviewed and seen as a star is nothing new to Elma. But her popularity is not limited to sports alone. A few years ago, she became a product endorser of a known bath soap (Safeguard).

So how does a long-time athlete see Philippine sports a few years from now? "Mahirap sabihin. Kailangan may unity. At may continuity sa training lalo na sa national athletes. Kasi nandoon na sila. Kapag may nakikita na silang athlete na magaling, tutukan na nila. Yun namang nagsisumula pa lang, kailangang tulungan ng local government at DILG dahil kailangan din nito ng financial support. Kulang din kasi minsan sa incentives. At sa mga athlete din kasi, kailangan ang dedication, at tamang ensayo. (It's hard to say. Unity is important. So is continuity in the training of athletes, especially those who have already reached the top or national level. Those who are just starting meanwhile need help from the local government and DILG. They need financial support and incentives.At the same time, the athletes should show dedication and right training.)

Finally, what is Elma Muros Posadas message to her idols and young athletes who want to follow her footsteps?
" Walang imposible sa isang atleta na determinado at gusto ang ginagawa nila. Pero kung tamad siya at walang dediskasyon sa ginagawa niya, walang patutunguhan." (There is nothing imposible to a determined athlete and one who enjoys what he/she is doing. But if you are lazy and don't have dedication to what he is doing, nothing will come out of it.)