In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Former Asia’s sprint queen Lydia de Vega passes away

MANILA – Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Asia's former sprint queen, passed away after a four-year battle with breast cancer, her daughter announced Wednesday night. She was 57.

“On behalf of our family, it is with absolute grief that I announce the death of my mother, Lydia De Vega, this evening, August 10, 2022, at the Makati Medical Center,” Stephanie Mercado de Koenigswarter said in a Facebook post. “She fought the very good fight and is now at peace.”

Stephanie said the wake details will be announced “very soon but for now, I would wholeheartedly appreciate your prayers for the soul of my mother.”

De Vega-Mercado was dubbed the fastest woman in Asia in the 1980s, having won the 100-meter dash nine times in the Southeast Asian Games, four times in the Asian championship, and twice in the Asian Games.

She also played in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The Filipino sports legend from Meycauayan, Bulacan retired from active competition in 1994. (PNA)

Comments