Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution expressing the Senate’s condolences and sympathy on the death of Lydia de Vega-Mercado, who was known as Asia’s Fastest Woman in the 1980s.

In Proposed Senate Resolution No. 132, Gatchalian cited how de Vega was revered as Asia’s undisputed fastest woman. The senator also recognized how de Vega continues to inspire a younger generation of Filipino athletes, “especially the young women who are bent on breaking both barriers and records” to uplift the country’s spirit.

From 1981, the sprinter from Meycauayan collected a total of 15 gold medals across multiple international sports competitions. She was also a two-time Olympian who participated in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic games.

Gatchalian recalled that during the 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in Manila, de Vega had a remarkable opening salvo to a long and successful athletics career when she won the 200m and 400m golds. It was in the 1982 Asian games in New Delhi, India where de Vega started her ascent as Asia’s Sprint Queen when she won her heat in the 100m at 11.77 seconds.

Gatchalian also cited that from 1987 until 2020, de Vega held the Philippine Record in the 100m at 11.28 seconds. From 1987 until 2019, she held the National 200m Record for 32 years at 23.35 seconds. Her National and National Junior Record in the 400m stood from 1981 to 2013. As of December 2020, de Vega still holds two Philippine Records in the 60m Indoor and 200m Junior Women’s.

“Throughout her stellar career, Lydia de Vega-Mercado not only ruled the race tracks, she also won the hearts of Filipinos for her world-class talent. Her victories in the sports of track and field rallied our country, bringing it in the limelight of world sports competition and giving our countrymen a great sense of national pride and honor,” Gatchalian said in his resolution.