There is a certain poetry when a woman named “Wong” carries the Philippine flag in a sport born in China.

For wushu veteran Agatha Wong, identity is not a question of choosing sides. It is a lifelong discipline — as demanding as wushu itself — shaped by heritage, honed by training, and tested daily as she balances international competitions with medical school at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Wong told DAILY TRIBUNE that she grew up in a household where two cultures quietly coexisted and without the pressure usually associated with traditional Filipino-Chinese households.

“Well, first of all, the flexibility. Then, of course, the values that were taught to us when I was growing up — there’s a mix of Filipino and Chinese,” the 27-year-old Wong said in a phone conversation a day before the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

“For example, we both celebrate Chinese New Year and the regular New Year celebration. But also, the values are not really far from each other in terms of culture. In my family, we don’t have a ‘Great Wall.’ So those are the key differences. That also helps me decide and gives me more options in deciding for my future.”

Her father Christopher Wong Sr., half-Filipino and half-Chinese, played a central role in shaping that mindset with discipline being a non-negotiable in their household.

“Yeah. I think definitely my dad is more disciplined compared to, I think, the normal father, based on stories from my classmates and my own experience. In my family, he’s stricter,” Wong said.

“He really emphasizes discipline. He emphasizes career. My family doesn’t really emphasize your love life. It’s more about career, ambition, your future.”

What’s ironic is that although she did not grow up deeply immersed in traditional Chinese schooling, she would eventually find herself representing the Philippines in a sport deeply rooted in Chinese heritage.

“Actually, it’s super coincidental that my sport was Chinese. I did a lot of sports growing up. I was first exposed to swimming at an early age. I was only three years old when I started swimming lessons. I did ballet, karate and ice skating.”

Wushu stood out not because of heritage, but because of the challenge.

“When I grew up a little bit, I found that wushu was more my interest because it really challenged me every day. Up until now, it still challenges me. So that’s how it is,” said Wong, a six time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and two-time World Championship silver medalist.

Still, carrying a distinctly Chinese surname in a Philippine national team composed mostly of Filipinos occasionally brought moments of quiet isolation.

But loneliness is something she learned to deal with.

“It’s funny because in my sport, all of my teammates are Filipino. I think I’m the only one with a Chinese surname. When you look at me and I say I’m just quarter Chinese — because my surname is very Chinese — there’s also a factor of loneliness,” Wong said.

“But I’ve grown accustomed to it. So it’s not really an issue right now.”

Curiosity, she admitted, often came from fellow Filipinos more than anyone else.

“It’s more when I compete, I represent the country. When you look at my name, Filipinos are more curious,” Wong said.

“They’re like, ‘Why is her name Wong?’ But it goes both ways. You can’t have it all.”

Even cultural celebrations reflect moderation rather than tradition-heavy observance.

“Actually, since we’re not traditional, we don’t really celebrate Chinese New Year anymore. We just celebrate it casually. We’re not fully prepared like traditional families and we would often just eat stuff like tikoy on Chinese New Year.”

Yet for Wong, representation has never been confusing.

Competing in wushu — a sport born in China — while wearing Philippine colors has given her clarity rather than conflict.

“Of course, I’ll always remember where I came from. That’s really important — how you grew up, what country embraced you,” Wong said.

“There will always be some kind of misalignment at one point, but you need to know how to balance it. Since I’m in a sport that’s from China, I think that gives me a lot of balance. When you say wushu, my name comes to mind, and my name is very Chinese.

In her heart, Wong remains committed to serving the Philippines on the international stage. But her Chinese roots became her foundation as she navigates her life as an athlete and an aspiring doctor.