From peanuts to Paris: 'Magmamani' and now Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas rises to stardom

PARIS – Aira Villegas’ journey in the 2024 Olympics ended in a semifinal windup.

No gold, no silver, but she had played her part in Team Philippines’ memorable, historic ride — her bronze feat to be celebrated and looked upon by the next generations of Filipino Olympic medal hopefuls.

Villegas’ Cinderella run as a neophyte Olympian came to an end at the hands of bemedaled Turkish fighter Buse Naz Cakiroglu, a former world champion and the Tokyo Games silver winner who dazzled her way to a unanimous 5-0 victory before a packed crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier inside Roland Garros.

“Talagang magaling, mas technical,” said Villegas of her opponent, also her conqueror in a quarterfinals bout in the 2022 World Championship.

Overwhelmed and beaten, Villegas settled for the bronze but vowed her journey as a boxer isn’t stopping in her semis finish in the Paris Games.

“Syempre po sa future trabaho pa rin. Hindi natatapos dito ang lahat,” said Villegas, from a family of boxers in Tacloban, Leyte.

Boxing is Villegas’ bread and butter, her monthly allowance and incentives helping the family in their daily lives. It had helped them recover from the devastation of Yolanda in their province in 2013.

“Wala ako sa Tacloban noon, wasak ang bahay namin,” said Villegas, then already training in the ABAP (Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines) camp after being discovered in the Philippine National Games.

She’s one of five from six Villegas siblings who took boxing, taking the cue from eldest Ruel and the second eldest Rominic, who’s still in the sport as a referee.

“Sa kanya po nanggaling lahat. Kasi noong bata pa po ako, nakikita ko si kuya, yung boxing ang tumulong sa kanyang scholarship sa pagaaral. Nakaka-inspire. Looking back, si kuya yung nag-provide sa school niya and everything,” said Villegas.

“Tapos gusto kong maranasan yung naranasan niya sa paglalaro. Pumupunta siya sa ibang lugar, pagbalik niya, inaabutan niya si mama ng pera mula sa prize money niya,” Villegas added.

And she’s been doing the same since becoming a national boxer — long way she’s gone from being a peanut vendor and the daughter of a balut vendor.

At 29, Villegas said she’s still chasing an