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August 14, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) grieves the passing of Philippine sports icon and Palarong Pambansa hero Lydia De Vega. We extend our deepest condolences to De Vega’s bereaved family.

Considered Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s, De Vega was able to dominate the Asian Athletics Championships, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games by bagging 15 golds, six silvers, and three bronzes for a total of 24 medals in her historic career.

Before ruling the track in Asia, De Vega was discovered at the Palarong Pambansa, the country’s biggest sporting event for basic education. The Department honored De Vega with the Palarong Pambansa Parangal Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for her contributions to Philippine sport.

De Vega is a testament that we can achieve our dreams through hard work and sacrifices. We hope that her legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of young Filipinos.

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