[1] Born in Iloilo to a Mexican-American father and a Cebuana mother, de la Viña spent her elementary and high school years in Cebu where she excelled in softball and athletics.

[2] De la Viña was nicknamed "Big Jo" for her hefty six-foot frame and her trademark afro hairstyle, which made her an imposing presence on the field.

Dela Viña eventually gave up softball and concentrated on throwing events in athletics like discus, javelin and shot put after being persuaded by school officials to develop her potential.

In the inaugural Asian Athletics Championships held in Marikina in 1973, Dela Viña threw the discus at a record distance 50.74m to comfortably win the gold medal.

Dela Viña's personal best throw of 54.71m, which she set during the 1971 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bakersfield, remains a national record to this day.