By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Centralian Maria Lucy U. Muralla won multiple medals in various arnis competitions.
A Centralian, Maria Lucy U. Muralla, recently won three gold medals in the Philippine Idol – National Battle of Arnisadors – Battle of Champions held last June 19, 2022. She is finishing her two doctoral studies at CPU taking up Doctor of Management with concentration in Business Management, and Doctor of Education with concentration in Guidance and Counselling.
Muralla, who is 52 years old, is an arnis martial arts blackbelter. She got the gold medals in the Above 40 female Largo Strike (1 meter), Traditional Anyo Double-Bladed Weapon and Continuous Strike (Redonda) categories in the June 2022 competition. Last April, she also won two gold medals.
In an interview with Panay News, she said, “I am happy that, at my age of 52, I can still compete and capture gold medals in National Arnis Martial Arts Championships…I was told that, here in the Philippines, I am the most senior arnisador to join these tournaments and to achieve a gold medal is a feat. Even my coaches are saying that this is a rare achievement and we were surprised that I can still move very fast and even do the perfect split stance at my age.”
In an interview with the Centralian Link, she said, “My winning reminds me that Faith in God can move mountains. You can just do anything and nothing is impossible in His Power. I achieved it because God allowed it.” Furthermore, she added, “My winning is the result of humility amidst persecution. I embrace all my sufferings with humility and gratefulness that in the end, God will always give justice to my sacrifices and hard work. As the Bible says, “When you are humble, God will exalt you.”
This is her advice to student-athletes, “sometimes, students who excelled in sports would think that they are not good in academics. And those that excelled in academics would think that they can never be good in sports. I want them to change their mindset through my example. When you believe, when you have faith, you can excel in both academics and sports.” Her grades showed that indeed you can excel in both.
She is thankful to CPU for the lessons she has learned in school. She remarked, “CPU has given me a very strong foundation in my spirituality. Faith, be good, and doing good and choosing always what is right in all circumstances are the values I learned from CPU.” She was the former Governor of the School of Graduate Studies last 2010. It was during her time that the department joined the debate and Mr. and Miss CPU contest.
Muralla is currently working as a Regional Labor and Employment Officer in the Department of Labor and Employment – Region 6.