By Brian Yalung

Rosalio “Yoyong” Martirez was a fighter. He fought until the very end for as long as he could.

This is what best sums up how things went for the former Olympian who died due to pneumonia complications. I was told how Yoyong battled through this illness for the past two weeks before losing the battle last June 18.

The last time I saw him, Yoyong Martires was strong as an ox. I asked him how he kept himself in shape and he would just smile. He would simply tell me, just make sure to take time to exercise and worry less. That was the key to his jolly personality.

Considering I just saw him back in April and talked to him regularly via phone, it was a shock to learn about his passing. It caught me by surprise as I was about to engage in a career-related errand, one that could be career-defining on my end.

It went off to a bad start when I learned Yoyong had passed. It shook me up and I had to recompose myself. I had lost a dear friend, one of the few big names who never let fame get to their head. Yoyong treated me as a son, one that I cherished. Hence, it was why the pain of losing someone as great as Martires continues to this day.

Yoyong fought until the very end. He underwent several procedures to determine the cause of his pneumonia. He was cooperative and responsive. But when a major procedure was suggested, the family opted not to, knowing that it could be too much for the former PBA player to bear.

Yoyong Martires died peacefully. Similar to the stories he shared with me on how he worked his way up in sports, the same happened until his very last breath. He was a fighter, someone who would not give up for as long as he could. His untimely passing has left many befuddled, including myself.

Why Yoyong stood out

Regardless, I would rather remember Yoyong as the funny guy who never ran out of stories to tell. He was always accommodating despite his busy schedule. That is what made him special compared to some current athletes and personalities who have other agendas. People of today feel that once they have it made they no longer need the people who helped them before reaching their dreams. That is the sad reality, pitiful but true.

Success does strange things to some people. Some remain humble while others set up a fence. You have to get through their so-called guardians, managers, or handlers who draw the line. In all, they choose who, people like Olympians or celebrities, should see. The bottom line? They opt for people from other outlets who can help them make money, using their “temporary” place in fame as a cash cow to rack in even more money in the form of endorsements or sponsorships.

This is a reason why I have also drawn the line. There are only two answers to any query – Yes or No. Hence, it is only a two-strike policy for me. The first and the second. A third one makes no sense since it only means my efforts are irrelevant. Rather than waste my time, move on to the next.

Rosalio “Yoyong” Martires was never like that. There are only a handful of people who have kept their feet on the ground. My only message is to enjoy the moment until it lasts. Once it is over, there is no going back because you already burned the bridges.

I prefer not to name names. These people know who they are.

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Brian Yalung

Managing Editor at Sports Bytes PH

Brian Yalung is a long-time writer who covers most sports and technology. He focuses on one-on-one interviews with athletes and organizations, going in-depth. He finished his Masters in Business Administration degree at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Applications at the DLSU-College of St. Benilde. He is currently the Program Overseer of PTV Sports.

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