TOKYO Olympics-bound Irish Magno is lucky to be home at last on Monday.
Magno, who turned 29 only last July 27, escaped being locked down anew by one day following President Duterte’s order for Metro Manila and nearby cities and provinces to revert to modified enhanced community quarantine.
“I’m very happy—new environment after months of being away,” Magno told BusinessMirror, adding she is very much relieved to be home in Janiuay, Iloilo.
Magno, like fellow national boxing team member and women’s world champion Nesthy Petecio, has all the reasons to be happy. Her journey home was long and stressful.
Following her successful stint at the Tokyo Olympics qualifier in Amman, Jordan, last February, Magno had to be quarantined in a rented room in Baguio City along with teammates and fellow Olympics qualifier Eumir Felix Marcial and Petecio.
After that, Magno and Petecio had to stay for almost five months at the Philippine Sports Commission training facility at the Teachers’ Camp. Marcial, on the other hand, was more privileged because he is now based in Cavite and only needed a car to travel.
When the quarantine was eased, Magno, Petecio and several of their coaches were brought to the PSC facility at the PhilSports in Pasig City and underwent another round of quarantine procedures.
Then came the anxious wait for the plane tickets that would bring them home to their families.
Petecio was first to fly home to Davao last week, and Magno followed suit on Monday.
“I couldn’t control my emotions when I held that plane ticket in my hand, to sitting on the plane and landing here in Iloilo,” she said.
Nevermind if she will have to be quarantined for two weeks as prescribed by the local government unit. Magno’s eyes are sparkling differently now.
“A little wait and I will be with my family,” she said.
Magno admitted she gained some extra pounds because of limited activity during the pandemic, but she vowed to plunge into serious training under the online guidance of her Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines coaches.
“I also plan to reconnect with my former coaches here in the province and also train with them. I will ask if we could use the boxing gym here to keep myself conditioned,” the flyweight standout said.