BATANGAS, Philippines – At just 12 years old, Batangas student-athlete Sam Garcia broke a 29-year-old record in elementary girls’ shot put at the Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte.
She marked her winning streak with two gold medals in discus throw and shot put and a silver in javelin. In shot put, her throw of 12.48 meters surpassed the 1996 mark of 10.93m set by Southern Mindanao’s Canny Amor Bartolome.
Aside from breaking the 29-year-old Palaro record in shot put, Garcia recorded a personal best of 33.97m in discus throw for the gold.
Thrown into destiny
Before she stepped into the throwing circle, the then 10-year-old Garcia was a track-and-field runner, making running a routine four times a week in the morning around her residential barangay area. So, when the school intramurals started, Garcia decided to participate in the tryouts.
In 2023, Garcia joined the 100m and 800m runs at the 2023 district sports meet for the first time, though fell short of the podium in each category.
That same year, however, her coach Michelle Hernandez spotted her potential in throwing events, after Garcia watched her fellow athletics teammates prepare for their competition and was suddenly inspired to give throwing a try.
“My players were throwing javelins before their game day, when Sam asked me if she could try throwing as well. I was amazed because the javelin landed far. So I decided to include her in the competition without practice,” said Hernandez in a mix of English and Filipino.
From that one throw, a new path opened.
Despite having no formal training in all throws, she ended up winning a gold medal in javelin in the same 2023 competition.
By 2024, she joined the Palarong Pambansa in Cebu, bringing home two bronze medals: one in discus throw with a score of 28.76m and javelin with a throw of 38.65m.
But in 2025, she didn’t just want to compete. She wanted gold, and she achieved more than that.
In an online interview with Rappler, Garcia shared that she trained during their summer break and for almost three months before the competition at Calaca Central School in Batangas with her coaches and teammates from the “Balibangers,” Batangas province’s elementary and secondary throwers.
“Maaga po kaming nagising para sa fitness exercises namin tapos drills sa umaga and naghahagis na po kami ng implements hanggang hapon (We wake up early in the morning for our fitness exercises and drills, then we throw implements until afternoon),” Garcia looked back on her training days.
There were days when the toughest weight she carried wasn’t the javelin, but believing in herself. As a beginner with little formal training, she was convinced that inexperience meant she didn’t stand a chance.
“Mahina po ang loob ko noon, wala po akong confidence. Iniisip ko po lagi na hindi ko kaya (Back then, I lacked courage and had no confidence. I always felt like I wasn’t capable),” Garcia continued.
But being surrounded by supportive loved ones and being motivated to win gold medals, she was pushed to overcome these self-doubts.
More than her record-breaking performances and gold medals, Garcia learned some life lessons that she will carry with her in every competition.
“‘Wag maging kampante. ‘Wag magpadala sa kaba and gawin ‘yong best as always (Don’t be complacent. Don’t give in to nervousness and always do your best).”
Landing into the future
Garcia’s success wasn’t just personal — it was a proud moment for her OFW mother as well, despite being far from home.
“Sobrang happy po ako para sa kanya kasi syempre po ‘yon po ang goal niya: ang maka-gold. Ito po ay sadyang ipinagdasal ko kaya wala pong kapantay ang kasiyahan nararamdaman ko,” said Garcia’s mother, Marina Bulaclac.
(I’m very happy for her because that was her goal: to get gold. This is what I prayed for; that’s why there’s nothing that can compare to the happiness that I feel.)
With her young and humble heart, Garcia honored those who supported her from the beginning of her journey to her victorious finish in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
“Maraming salamat po sa panginoon, sa mga sumusuporta sa akin ng walang sawa; sa akin pong mga coach [at] trainers: Sir Dennis, Sir Cris, Ma’am lucy, and Ma’am Chelle — lalo na po sa aking mga magulang, lolo [at] lola.”
(Thank you so much to the Lord, to those who support me tirelessly; my coaches and trainers: Dennis Ricafort, Cris Adarlo, Lucy Fortugaliza, and Michelle Hernandez — and most especially to my parents, and my grandparents.)
After her successful run in Palarong Pambansa 2025, the young athlete now has a new goal: to be part of the Philippine athletics team and participate in more throwing competitions, locally and internationally. – Rappler.com
Cahvriligne Ronquillo is a Mover from Batangas.