A Medal for Daddy
A Little Courage, A Lot of Heart, and a Dad to Make Proud
Javelin was never really my daughter Sophia’s sport.
At ten years old, this was her first time competing in the event at the Private Schools Association of Parañaque (PSAP) Palaro 2026 Athletics Varsity Competition. She had been training for it while her dad, Noli, was in the hospital battling cancer.
During that time, so much of our family’s attention was on Daddy - his treatments, his condition, and the hope that he would get better. In the middle of everything that was happening, Sophia continued to prepare for her competition, while we were all praying that her dad would get another chance to be there to watch her.
Noli had always been an important part of Sophia’s world. Like any little girl who wants to make her dad proud, I imagine she was looking forward to sharing this moment with him.
But Daddy never got to see her compete. He never got to cheer her on or watch her receive her medal.
And yet, on competition day, Sophia gave us a reason to celebrate.
She won gold in the Javelin Throw – Elementary Girls Division. 🥇
I was so proud of her. Not simply because she won, but because I knew this was more than just another school competition for her. In her own little way, she was doing something she wanted Daddy to be proud of.
As I watched her that day, I found myself thinking about the things I hope she will always remember about her dad and the lessons this experience might leave with her.
1. Courage means trying, even when something is unfamiliar.
Sometimes, we see courage in the big things people do. Other times, we see it in a ten-year-old girl stepping onto a field, giving a new sport her best, and doing so during a time when life at home was far from easy.
Beyond the medal, what matters is the courage Sophia showed in trying something new.
I hope she carries that with her as she grows up. I hope she will never be afraid to try something simply because she doesn't know how it will turn out. That she will learn to trust herself, work hard, and give herself the chance to discover what she can do.
Whenever she faces something difficult, I hope she remembers that she has already shown herself she can be brave.
That is something worth being proud of, with or without a medal.
2. Every victory is more meaningful when it honors someone you love.
There is something beautiful about a child wanting to make a parent proud.
It isn't always about hearing the applause or receiving recognition. Sometimes, it's simply about wanting to share a happy moment with someone whose opinion matters so much to you.
For Sophia, I know Daddy's presence would have made that day even more special. I can only imagine how happy Noli would have been watching his little girl compete and seeing her name called during the awarding.
But being proud of someone isn't only about being there when they win. It's also about the love and encouragement we give them long before the moment arrives.
It's the kind of love that helps them believe they can do something. The kind that stays with them when they try, when they fail, and when they have to begin again.
I hope Sophia grows up knowing that she never has to win to deserve her dad's pride. She never has to collect medals or accomplish extraordinary things to be worthy of his love.
She was his little girl, and she always will be. That was, and will always be, enough.
Still, I know this gold medal will hold a special place in her heart because it was hers, but it was also for Daddy.
3. The love between a father and daughter doesn't end with goodbye.
During the competition, Sophia and I noticed a golden-yellow butterfly flying toward us. Later, during the awarding, it returned and landed on my right shoulder.
I've never been one to believe in superstitions or think that every little thing carries a deeper meaning. But Sophia and I noticed it together, and somehow, we both felt comforted by that moment.
Maybe Daddy was there. Maybe, in our own way, we wanted to believe he was watching his little girl after all.
And we chose to hold on to that thought.
Sophia will have so many more milestones ahead of her. There will be school achievements, new interests, friendships, challenges, and dreams she has yet to discover. Daddy won't be there in the way we would have wanted him to be.
But he will always be part of her story.
As her mom, one of the things I hope to do is help keep those memories alive. To tell her stories about Daddy, remind her of their special moments, and make sure she knows that she can always talk about him, miss him, and celebrate him.
Growing up without her dad beside her does not mean she has to grow up without his love.
That love is already part of who she is, and I hope she will carry it with her wherever life takes her.
Most of all, I hope she will never doubt how much her dad loved her. No medal, achievement, or passing of time could ever change the place she holds in his heart.
This medal may have Sophia's name on it, but in her heart, this one will always be for Daddy.
Coffee Moment
Our children may not always have their parents beside them for every milestone, but the love they receive from them becomes part of who they are.
What is one thing a parent has taught you that you will carry with you for the rest of your life?
