The University of the Philippines held a tribute reception for Team Philippines archer, Amaya Amparo Paz Cojuangco (BA Psychology, UP Diliman, 2008), Oct. 19 at the Executive House in UP Diliman, to recognize her historic achievement at the recent Asian Games in Japan. She won the women’s individual compound silver — the country’s first and the highest podium finish in Asiad archery thus far. The achievement came on the heels of her record-setting performance in the 72-arrow 50-meter women’s individual compound qualifier at the Southeast Asian Games held December 2025.
UP President Angelo Jimenez said he watched the broadcast of her event and was holding his breath at the intensity of the final match. He added that Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick Gregorio was giving him updates the entire time. Jimenez told Cojuangco’s teammates to be inspired and encouraged by her resilience and determination. He also pledged to revive the UPD archery range, looking at UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, who responded positively with a thumbs-up and a big smile.
Gregorio, who also spoke during the reception program, shared the bigger vision of sports development in the country, which includes developing facilities and programs in state universities and colleges. PSC, which is mandated to support amateur national athletes, has also been pursuing the expansion of public access to its sports facilities in support of a healthier Filipino lifestyle.
Cojuangco’s father, Jaime Paz, talked of the various challenges that his daughter faced up until this point in her career: Typhoon Ondoy floodwaters submerging the home she shared with her husband, Enrique Cojuangco Jr., and their baby, Alfonso; a misdiagnosed cyst on her jaw that was surgically removed in 2005 but recurred in 2011, diagnosed as ameloblastoma, then surgically treated again; years of facial pain and therapy that followed; surgery of her myoma complicated by endometriosis; and a shoulder injury just months before the Asian Games. He expressed immense pride at his daughter’s strength, and will to fight and rise.
World Archery President Ebbinghans Reaport relayed that he told Gregorio that Cojuangco’s silver was as good as gold because the last podium finish for archery in the Asiad was 12 years ago and it was a bronze. He thanked PSC and Gregorio’s leadership because without their support, the national team would not have been able to get the services of South Korean Coaches Ryu Su-Jeng and Hong Sung-Chil. He also revealed that only eight months with them yielded this result. Cojuangco, he added, will be shooting to aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Cojuangco said her archery journey started in UP, at its now-closed archery range, which she would pass on the way home from guitar lessons when she was still in high school. She said she is hopeful that it will be restored, so that national athletes can have a permanent home in the university. Cojuangco also appealed to the university administration for leeway when her teammates who are UP students need time away for training and competitions. “The dream is for the young ones to achieve their dreams faster than those of us who came before, who had to work harder and longer. Let’s dream together for that LA spot.”
Click below to view more scenes of the event:
