Lydia De Vega (left) won the 100 m gold at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. Her Indian rival, P.T. Usha (right), came in second (Source: The Hindu)

Positively Filipino joins the Filipino nation in celebrating the life of the legendary track and field athlete Lydia de Vega-Mercado, 57, who died last week after a four-year battle with cancer. De Vega made the country proud with her total haul of 24 medals, 15 of them gold, at the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Asian Athletic Championships. Dubbed as "Asia's fastest woman" in the '80s, she competed and won medals until 1993.

Here's a tribute to her greatness: https://www.rappler.com/sports/things-to-know-lydia-de-vega-strides-to-greatness/

Speaking of medals, last week, we published a story by Dr. Blas Bermudez, an avid medal collector, who came across a Ramon Magsaysay Award medal given in 1992 to a distinguished business icon, Washington SyCip. The story, which is less about the medal than about the doctor's heroic attempt to save a life aboard a jet plane, triggered some questions on why the medal was for sale in the open market in the first place. We asked Mr. SyCip's family and the answer was, the medal was stolen by a former employee who was fired. Here's the story again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/last-flight-home

Two more medal stories in this week's issue:

The National Artist for Dance honor was awarded to choreographer Agnes Locsin, profiled here by PF contributor from Manila, Pablo A. Tariman.

The Philippine National Women's Soccer Team broke all bets and expectations when they beat Thailand and won the gold in the Asian Football Federation finals last month at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes was there.

The family of philantrophist and Fil-Am community champion Loida Nicolas-Lewis honors her late husband Reginald Lewis' legacy with generous donations to African American community groups. PF Correspondent Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. tells us about the annual event held at the Lewis home in East Hampton.

August 21 is not to be taken lightly in Philippine contemporary history. We recall two earth-shaking events that changed the country's historical trajectory.

The Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21, 1972 which led to martial law:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/august-21-stories

And the assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on August 21, 1983 which eventually led to the downfall of the Marcos regime:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ninoys-final-journey

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