ILOCOS NORTE – Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Breanna “Courageous” Erno was born to oldsters whose livelihood revolves round battling flames, however she opted to overcome the waters as an alternative.
The 12-year-old Courageous from Caraga area captured two medals in 2025 Palarong Pambansa, together with a historic gold medal within the elementary ladies’ 400m freestyle, with a time of 4 minutes and 57.94 seconds on the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium.
Courageous stated she found her love for swimming when she was in Grade 4. At first, it was as a result of her mother and father, Sunshine and Hernan Jake, felt that it was their accountability to show their daughter fundamental swimming expertise which is a necessity of their job as firefighters.
The younger Erno ultimately fell in love with the game all on her personal. Nevertheless, she needed to overcome setbacks early on.
“First swimming ko is Grade 4 ako, gusto ko lang naman i-try mag-swimming at pagkatapos no’n nasali ako sa division meet, pero hindi ako nakapasok sa regional kaya nag-stop ako for ilang months,” Erno shared.
The next 12 months, she joined each division and regional meets, however fell wanting a slot within the Palarong Pambansa.
“Nag-start ako ulit then doon na nag-start na nag-division at regional meet ako, pero hindi na naman ako nakapasok sa Palaro. Then ngayon nag-Palaro na ako,” she added.
In line with Courageous’s coach, it was Caraga’s first swimming gold medal after a very long time.
“Masaya naman dahil nakuha ang first gold ng Caraga. Very particular dahil po ako po ang first gold medal ng Caraga sa swimming,” she added.
Erno’s latest feat additionally proved her mom proper — nothing is unattainable for those who simply work exhausting for it.
That goes with successful a gold medal, too, within the nation’s premier sports activities stage for elementary and highschool student-athletes.
“Kasi half sa trabaho namin is mag-rescue so dapat ‘yung mga bata marunong lumangoy lalo na at ‘yung sa aspect ko po ay taga-isla,” Sunshine stated in a separate interview.
“Basta ‘yung motto ko is that if others can, why cannot you. Gano’n lang talaga. Kung kaya ng iba, bakit ikaw hindi mo magagawa? Basta ibigay mo lang ‘yung greatest mo makukuha mo ‘yung aim mo and kami taga-support lang.”
—JKC, GMA Built-in Information