AROUND P50 million worth of cash incentives were given by the Office of the President to Filipino athletes and their coaches who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country bagged two gold and two bronze medals.
Last Tuesday night at Malacanang, President Marcos Jr. awarded P20 million in cash and the Presidential Medal of Merit to double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, P2 million each and the Presidential Citation to bronze medalists Aira Cordero Villegas and Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, P1 million each to the other Olympians, and P500,000 each to their coaches.
This was on top of the financial rewards for Filipino Olympians as mandated by law.
Under Republic Act 10699, medalists would receive P10 million for the gold, P5 million for the silver and P2 million for the bronze.
Marcos, during the dinner reception for the Filipino Olympians, said each athlete who failed to win a medal would receive P1 million and their coaches P500,000 each from his office.
He said the amount was small compared to the hard work and sacrifices of the athletes and their coaches.
Out of the 22 athletes who competed in nine disciplines in Paris, 17 attended the dinner reception with the President.
Marcos acknowledged how the athletes showed the world the spirit, determination and excellence of the Filipinos.
“What we should do is really recognize all the athletes, number one, all the athletes. I think any athletes, kahit sinong atleta dito sa Pilipinas o kung saan man lang, na makapag-qualify sa Olympics, mabigat ‘yun. That is an extremely difficult achievement to have managed (What we should do is really recognize all the athletes, number one, all the athletes. I think any athlete, whether in the Philippines or wherever, who qualified for the Olympics, it’s a big thing. That is an extremely difficult achievement to have managed),” Marcos said.
“So, lahat naman ng atleta natin bigyan na natin basta nag-Olympian, bigyan natin tig-i-isang milyon…Bukod pa roon, dahil sa ating pangingilala sa mga lahat ng tumulong, the coaching staff, bibigyan din natin ng kalahating milyon (So we will give all the athletes, as long as they are Olympians, P1 million each…Aside from this, we also recognize those who helped them, coaching staff, so we will give them half a million),” he added.
The President said the cash reward from the OP was supposed to match a similar reward from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco, in an interview in Malacanang, said they would still discuss the cash reward to the non-medalists and coaching staff.
The President said he is determined to become part of the development of sports in the Philippines, particularly with technical support from the government.
Marcos said he wants to consult the athletes and their coaching teams about their needs and what the government could do to improve the sports sector, assist the athletes and produce more future medalists.
“What I would like to do now is to ask our athletes, our coaches, all our sports organizations…I want to be part of the development of sports in the Philippines. Naiwan-iwanan na tayo (What I would like to do now is to ask our athletes, our coaches, all our sports organizations…I want to be part of the development of sports in the Philippines. We have been left behind),” he said.
He said Filipino athletes have done so well and made the country proud despite the absence of official technical support from the government.
“Kung minsan ‘yung gobyerno nakakatulong. Pero walang pormal na istraktura para tulungan ‘yung ating mga atleta. And that’s what we are going to establish now. So, I ask all of you to tell us, what is it that you need? (Sometimes the government is able to help.
But there are no formal structures to help the athletes and that’s what we are going to establish now. So, I ask all of you to tell us, what is it that you need),” he added.
CASH INCENTIVES
Yulo received a total of P14 million in cash incentives yesterday from the House of Representatives while Petecio and Villegas received P3.5 million each.
Yulo, who attended the congressional reception at the House of Representatives for him and fellow members of the Philippine delegation to the 2024 Paris Olympics, received P6 million from the House of Representatives for his two golds and an additional P8.010 million from contributions of House members led by Speaker Martin Romualdez; his wife Rep. Yedda Romualdez (PL, Tingog); House Committee on appropriations chair Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, AKo Bicol); Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.; Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and Deputy Speaker David Suarez.
This was on top of the P500,000 that Yulo received before he left for the Olympics. In total, the gymnast received P14.510 million.
Petecio and Villegas received P1 million each from the House and an additional P2.5 million each from contributions of House members for a total of P3.5 million each.
The amount was on top of the P500,000 each of them received from the House before leaving for France.
“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat po na nagdasal po (para) sa amin, at sumuporta, nagpuyat po para mapanood po ‘yong mga competitions namin at ma-appreciate po ‘yong hardwork at lahat ng paghihirap namin na ma-perform po ng maayos ‘yong performance namin (Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for us, who supported us, those who stayed up late to watch the competitions and those who appreciated our hard work and hardships to ensure that we deliver a good performance),” Yulo said in a short message to the House.
The other Paris Olympians who attended the reception were swimmers Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez, trackster Lauren Hoffman, hurdler John Cabang Tolentino, boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan, weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ann Ando and Vanessa Palomar Sarno, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, rower Joanie Delgaco and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.
They were accompanied by sports officials to the House of Representatives, where they were given a heroes’ welcome.
Those who failed to make it to the reception were Aleah Finnegan, who is based in the United States, Levi Jung Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo of women’s artistic gymnastics, golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina and fencer Sam Catantan.
During the ceremony, Speaker Martin Romualdez conferred on Yulo the Congressional Medal of Excellence and the Congressional Medal of Distinction on Petecio and Villegas, who happens to be a constituent of the Speaker in Tacloban City.
The Congressional Medal of Excellence is the highest award presented to Filipino achievers in sports, business, medicine, science and arts, and culture.
House Resolution No. 241 was also earlier adopted to honor all Filipino athletes and the entire Philippine delegation who competed in the last Olympics.
“Kami po dito sa (We here in the) House of the Representatives, House of the People are honored by your victories and your achievements. We want to thank every one of you. Of course, the coaches and the family that all supported you, for you have made these all possible,” Speaker Romualdez mentioned his kababayan, Villegas, in his short speech.
The Speaker the called the athletes the country’s “shining beacon.” “Ito po ang resulta na kapag nagsama-sama talaga tayo (This is the result when we really unite), we can achieve everything. Iyun po ang mensahe ng ating mahal na Presidente kagabi, kaya po kami dito sa Kongreso (That’s the President’s message last night that why we, here in Congress), join him in celebrating your victory, recognizing your sacrifices, and recognizing your hard work.
“We recognize that the journey to Olympic glory is paved with countless hours of training, sacrifices, and moments of doubt. But you persevered. You kept your eyes on bringing pride and glory, and your hearts filled with the hopes of our people. And for that, you have become more than just athletes; you are our heroes,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“As we confer these Congressional Medals and recognition upon you today, know that this honor is not just for your extraordinary feats in Paris, but for the inspiration you have given to every Filipino–young and old. You have shown us that with determination and unity, there is no limit to what we can achieve,” the Speaker said
Romualdez said the congressional awards and the medals the athletes won “are also a reminder of the collective effort behind your success – your coaches, your families, your friends, and the entire nation that cheered you on with every step, every jump, every stroke, and every lift.”
“You have made us believe once again that we are capable of greatness,” he said, adding the athletes’ participation and victory in Paris are “stories of triumph, resilience, and sheer determination that our athletes have etched into the annals of history.
“The Paris 2024 Olympics have once again brought to light the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people–a spirit that rises above challenges and stands tall on the world stage,” he added.
The House leader also extended his “deepest appreciation to all of you, our dear Filipino athletes who made it to Paris.”
“Your hard work, dedication, and commitment have brought honor to our nation. Qualifying for the Olympics is already an extraordinary achievement, and you have shown the world the strength and resilience of the Filipino spirit,” he said.
SENATE RESOLUTIONS
The Senate unanimously adopted several resolutions commending and congratulating the members of the Philippine team who competed in Paris.
Senate Resolution No. 1097 took into consideration 17 resolutions filed by the senators to congratulate and commend Yulo for being the first Filipino to win back-to-back gold medals in the country’s 100 years of participation in the Olympics.
Senate Resolution No. 1097 also seeks to confer the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence to Yulo.
Senators also approved Senate Resolution No. 1117, taking into consideration nine other resolutions, which will confer the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence to Villegas.
They also approved Senate Resolution No. 1122, taking into consideration 10 resolutions, which will confer the Philippine Senate Medal of Excellence to Petecio.
Senate Resolution No. 1128, taking into consideration a handful of resolutions, was also adopted. It also commends and congratulates the Philippine team for its impressive performance in the Paris Olympics.
Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the Philippine team’s “sacrifice, dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence” led it to accomplish “its best and strongest showing yet with two gold and two bronze medals” which coincided with the country’s centennial celebration of participating in the Olympics.
“Because of what you have shown, we are all excited about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The future definitely looks bright for Philippine sports. Our first-time Olympians displayed immense promise in their respective Olympic debuts,” Estrada said.
“Again, our sincerest gratitude to the Philippine contingent to the Paris Olympics!” he added.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, in his sponsorship speech, said that Yulo winning two gold medals is historic for the country.
“These, more than any innate skill, are the marks of a true athlete — and these are the qualities that make him an exemplar of the Filipino spirit, and a worthy recipient of the Senate Medal of Excellence,” Zubiri said.
He said that Yulo’s double gold win “is just the start of a long spring for Filipino athletes excelling on the world stage” with better government support.
All the senators were co-sponsors of the resolutions.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino said the Philippine team will be physically present to receive the commendations and their respective medals of excellence during their session on Monday next week. — With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa
