Broken home no barrier as teen sets record in Palaro high jump
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 01 May 2019 12:14:50 +0000
DAVAO CITY: Kent Bryan Celeste could not help but shed tears after achieving more than his goal in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa on Wednesday here.
The 17-year old Celeste cleared 2.02 meters in his third attempt in the secondary boys’ high jump competition to break anew his personal best and Palaro record, which he set last year in Vigan at 1.99 meters.
A native of Anda, Pangasinan, Celeste’s goal was to repeat the two-meter jump that he has been doing in training.
Surprisingly for him, he cleared more than what he expected.
After his shattering victory, Celeste immediately headed toward his coach, Jomar Carido, and gave him a tight hug as he started to break down on his coach’s chest.
The 10th-grader of Anda National High School admitted that his journey towards Palaro was not a walk in the park.
Celeste, who grew up in a broken family, was being supported by his father’s parents.
Though resentful on why he was left early in his childhood, Celeste wanted to prove something to his parents.
“Gusto ko po kasi patunayan sa magulang ko na hindi nila ako dapat iniwan ng ganun. Gusto ko pong patunayan sa kanila na kahit iniwan nila ako, may kaya at may magagawa po sa buhay,” said Celeste, while wiping his tears.
(I wanted to prove to my parents that they should not have left me. I wanted to prove to them that even if they left me, I can do something in life.)
“Gusto ko pong patunayan na hindi ako basta basta lang at hindi ako napariwara kahit iniwan po nila ako,” he added.
(I wanted to show to my parents that I am no ordinary kid and I didn’t go astray even after they left me.)
In order to sustain his daily needs, Celeste delivered gallons of water to his neighbors during the weekend to earn at least P250 to P300 each day, which he would divide so that he could also provide for his grandfather Lorenzo and grandmother Caridad.
Although he endured emotional struggles growing up, Celeste kept a positive outlook and never bore his parents ill-will.
“Hindi po ako nagtanim ng galit. Tuloy lang po yung buhay kasi wala na rin naman po akong magagawa kung sisisihin ko sila. Magagalit lang po ako kaya tinanggap ko nalang,” said Celeste.
(I didn’t hold a grudge against my parents. Life had to go on and there was nothing I could do even if I blamed them. I would get angry that’s why I just accepted my fate.)
Instead of dwelling on his circumstances, Celeste ate adversities and challenges for breakfast, which fueled him during training and as he strove to become better everyday.
“Thank you, dahil kung wala sila, wala ako rito, wala po akong record ngayon. Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil kung hindi po nila ako iniwan hindi po ako ganito ngayon. Maraming, maraming salamat nalang po kasi binuhay nila ako,” he said.
(Thank you because if not for them, I wouldn’t be here. I won’t hold any record. I am thankful because if they didn’t leave me, I won’t have turned out like this. I am thankful because they gave me life.)
Celeste, who is an incoming Grade 11 student, received an athletic scholarship to continue his athletic career in Manila.
He is now setting his sight to become a full-pledged educator someday to help aspiring athletes to achieve their dreams.
“I want to take up Education major in Physical Education in college so I can share my knowledge with the youth,” he said.
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