By Brian Yalung
Olympian Mary Joy Tabal and husband LTJG Hector Dan Jimenez will be welcoming a new family member soon.
In a Facebook post, the 32-year-old Filipino marathoner revealed on Easter Sunday that she is pregnant and that they will be welcoming their first child in early October.
“Dearest Family and Friends! We’re absolutely ecstatic to let you all know that an enlightened soul has blessed Dan and I, and will be joining us in early October,” Tabal posted on her Facebook. “PS, already informed PATAFA and PSC about my situation and hopefully to get back to training and competitions end of the year and 2023. I may skip SEAGAMES and other competitions for now but in full time with this angel,” she added.
The couple got married last Jan. 8, 2022, in Cebu, a date that went as scheduled despite the changes made to the Vietnam SEA Games.
“We did plan to wed after the SEA Games. When it was postponed, Dan and I continued to talk about it – especially because he wanted to have a baby,” Tabal was quoted as saying to PTV in September last year.
Although Tabal mentioned she still wanted to participate in future competitions, all that has now been put on hold at least until the end of the year. – GB
