TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Hergie Tao-wag Bacyadan, a member of the Taloctoc subtribe of Tanudan and the first Kalinga and Filipino to compete in the Women’s 75-kilogram boxing division at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, was given a hero’s welcome on Monday, Sept. 9.
Bacyadan was paraded from the rotunda to the rotary and then to the Kalinga Sports Center, where she received a plaque of Special Recognition from the provincial government, a PhP500,000 incentive, and a framed copy of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2024-222, commending her for bringing honor and pride to the province and the country.
Before her Olympic bout, Bacyadan tucked in her belt several medals from international competitions. Among her significant feat include a gold medal in the Women’s Combat 66-kilogram division at the Vietnamese Martial Arts World Championships, silver medal in Wushu at the 2017 Sanda World Cup in China, and another silver medal in the 2017 World Wushu Championships in Russia.
Recounting her journey to becoming an Olympian, Bacyadan talked about how her early interest in activities typically associated with boys led to bullying at school. She also related how she used to haul heavy loads of unhusked rice for her uncle before learning about combat sports. Her two weeks of intensive Wushu training in Manila, which preceded her international bout, was a turning point in her life. After defeating her female Chinese coach in a sparring match, she secured a spot in the 65-kilogram division her coach previously held. However, for the remainder of her training, she was forced to spar with male opponents because there were not any female competitors willing to face her. Despite her training injuries, Bacyadan’s determination remained strong.
She won her first silver medal in the Wushu competition in Jakarta, Indonesia, and continued to collect medals. She mentioned that her achievements were not initially recognized, leading her to switch to boxing in hopes of gaining the recognition she sought when she would compete in the prestigious Olympic games.
Recognizing Bacyadan’s accomplishments, Governor James Edduba challenged the provincial legislature to enact an ordinance giving support to aspiring athletes in the province. “Sika kuma ti agbalin nga modelo mi tapno ma-improve ti sports ditoy Kalinga,” Edduba told Bacyadan.
Earlier, the Taloctoc subtribe also conducted the “tomo” ritual, a traditional rite performed to honor warriors returning from successful headhunting expeditions. In this context, it was used to celebrate Bacyadan’s success and the pride she brought to her tribe. By Rod Asurin
