Several names come to mind when we think of athletes who turned to politics when their playing days are over. Fighting in unfamiliar territory but using their popularity, these athletes, more often than not come out a winner.
To name a few, there’s Robert Jaworski, Freddie Webb, and Vergel Meneses, all three of the game of basketball, who successfully transitioned into public servants. Jaworski and Webb, both were elected to the Senate not necessarily at the same time, while Meneses was elected town mayor in Bulacan.
In the province of Romblon, there’s also one athlete who excelled in her chosen sport, particularly in the Romblon Provincial Athletic Meet, as a springboard in her career path. She is none other than Karen Cay Cawaling Montojo – Gado, of Guinbirayan, Sta Fe, Romblon.
Karen first served notice when she played for the volleyball girls team of Sta Fe in the Romblon Provincial Athletic Meet. Her aggressive style and powerful spikes spelled a big difference in her team’s campaign in the Provincial Meet. She was the star of her team. Then in 2013, the same year the MIMAROPA RAA Meet was held in Romblon town, she carried her team the Sta Fe-San Jose AA, to the championship of the 2013 Romblon Provincial Athletic Meet.
Later, she was invited to join the MIMAROPA girls secondary volleyball team, together with her friend Angelica Tan Galindez of Pangkat Tatlo (Odiongan-Ferrol) to play in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa held in Dumaguete city.
As luck would have it, Karen got the attention of a scout of Jose Rizal University who saw her great potential as a volleyball player that can help the JRU cause in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Not long after, JRU offered Karen an athletic scholarship and she became a member of the JRU varsity volleyball squad that took part in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Her team captain then was Chola Alvarez who now plays for the Galleries in the Philippine Volleyball League.
Karen performed very well in her NCAA stint and was even adjudged as Best Outside Spiker in one particular season.
She graduated with a Business Management degree at the JRU.
After finishing her college education, Karen decided to return home in Sta Fe and tried her luck in politics.
In her first try in politics, Karen grabbed a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan of Sta Fe. Based on her performance in the town council, the youth of her constituency is her first priority.
Karen’s story serves as good inspiration to all athletes playing in the 2025 Romblon Provincial Athletic Meet and even in the years ahead, that their participation opens the door to limitless opportunities that can make their dreams come true.
— Bill F Gabay
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