THE MVP Sports Foundation is proving to be outstanding in fulfilling its promises.
Before the Tokyo Olympics, the MVPSF dangled cash incentives for the Filipino athletes who will win medals.
Two days after the most unusual of Games, the privately funded sports foundation has released P40.5million for the new Olympic heroes.
Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged a historic gold, has received her P10million reward, while boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam got P5million each.Bronze medalist Eumir Marcial received P2million.
“It’s a breakthrough and a milestone event for Philippine sports as we’ve had our best medal haul, including our first-ever gold,” MVPSF Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan said.
“It is only right for the nation and the athletes to celebrate what has been achieved. Once the celebration settles, we go back to work,” he added.
The MVPSF also rewarded the athletes’ coaches, giving them a total of P11million.
“The MVPSF knows that it takes a village to win a medal in the Olympics. It takes combined efforts from the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the private sector to help our athletes succeed,” MVPSF president and Philippine Olympic Committee First Vice President Al Panlilio said.
“The coaches also sacrificed as they were away from their families as much as the athletes so they should also be compensated for their athletes’ success.”
“Our investment in the country’s sports development is all worth it when we see the effort of our athletes to represent the country to the best of their abilities. The victories they achieve and the pride they give our country are priceless,” said Pangilinan.
In partnership with the POC, the other 15 Filipino Olympians who were not able to win medals will receive P500,000 each for their hard work and dedication. A total of P7.5million will be given by the MVPSF to the POC through its president, Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, to cover the required amount.
The 15 other members of Team Philippines are gymnast Caloy Yulo, weightlifter Elreen Ando, skateboarder Margie Didal, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Juvic Pagunsan; pole vaulter EJ Obiena, swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule; boxer Irish Magno, rower Cris Nievarez, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, sprinter Kristina Knott, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, and shooter Jayson Valdez.
The total amount, which will be given to the coaches and athletes net of taxes, has been released by the MVPSF. This is on top of what the MVPSF has invested in sports since it was founded in 2011.
“In the past 10 years, the MVP Sports Foundation has spent more than two billion pesos in total,” Pangilinan, whose organization has aided athletes from different sports in the past decade, said.
The Philippines’ one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal finish, good for 50th place overall and No. 1 among Southeast Asian nations in the most unusual of Games, stand as the best campaign of the Philippines since it joined the Olympics in 1924.
