Lily Pecante to compete in US

PhilPost Postmaster Erlina “Lily” Pecante, the reigning world champion and record holder in Women’s Powerlifting will fly to Palm Springs, California to compete in the 2008 IPF Masters World Powerlifting Championship tomorrow, Sept. 27 via Northwest Airlines.

The 43 year old Postmaster and acknowledged as the world’s strongest woman, has reigned supreme in all International Powerlifting competitions since 1988. A recipient of this year’s Philippine Sportswriters Association award, Pecante has been an outstanding employee of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

Her boss, Postmaster General Hector R.R. Villanueva and the board of directors of PhilPost led by Chairman Franco Loyola wish her good luck and pray that she bring home the crown once again for the country.

The latest edition to her long list of achievents is the Asian Powerlifting Championships where she led the Philippine team sweep the Women’s 90-kg masters and winning the Asian Best Lifter award, smashing the Asian Master record in the bench press with 275 pounds.

Sanctioned by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the USA Powerlifting and the city of Palm Springs, California was selected by IPF as the hosts for the 2008 championships from September 30-October 04,2008 to be held at the famous Palm Springs Convention Center. Pecante will compete in the 90-kg weight class.

The IPF Masters World Powerlifting Championships is the most prestigious masters powerlifting event held annually. The event consistently hosts more than 300 lifters from 20 to 40 countries.
Pecante started lifting the 60-kg weight class until she reaches the 100 kilograms category which won her the National Open Championships in 1987, and the title “strongest woman in the Philippines”.

Before taking the 210 kilogram, her first two tries that produced 200.5 kg and 201.5 kg respectively, had already broken the Philippine record. Since beginning to lift at age 16, Pecante has won more than 20 medals majority of which came from international competitions held in India, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic, United States and South Africa.

Pecante is the current Postmaster of Pasig City Central Post Office.