THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Sunday expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of sports legend Lydia de Vega who died after a long battle with cancer.

De Vega, 57, passed away on August 10. She was diagnosed with the illness in 2018.

“DepEd grieves the passing of Philippine sports icon and Palarong Pambansa hero Lydia De Vega. We extend our deepest condolences to De Vega’s bereaved family,” the department said in a statement.

It hailed De Vega for her achievements.

“Considered Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s, De Vega was able to dominate the Asian Athletics Championships, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games by bagging 15 golds, six silvers, and three bronzes for a total of 24 medals in her historic career,” it said.

“Before ruling the track in Asia, De Vega was discovered at the Palarong Pambansa, the country’s biggest sporting event for basic education,” it added.

In 2018, DepEd honored De Vega with the Palarong Pambansa Parangal Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Philippine sport.

The department said De Vega is a “testament that we can achieve our dreams through hard work and sacrifices.”

“We hope that her legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of young Filipinos,” it said.