(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte met Filipino athletes who gave pride and honor to the Philippines, congratulating them for their show of excellence in their respective fields of sports.
Among the athletes whom President Duterte received in Malacanang were 19-year Carlos Edriel Yulo who recently won the country’s first ever gold at world artistic gymnastics championship, Nesthy Petecio who won the gold at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, and Ernest John Obiena who got the gold at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championship and another gold at the 30th Summer Universiade.
The President, together with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez and Senate Sports Committee Chairman Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, met the athletes at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang. They handed over cash incentives to the Filipino athletes.
Gold medalist for the 49th Fédération Internationale de (JIM-nas-tike) Gymnastiqua (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics World Championship and a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Carlos Yulo, received P1 million from the PSC and P1 million from the President.
Women’s boxing champion Petecio also received P1 million from the PSC and another P1 million from President Duterte.
Twin gold medalist Obienam a qualifier to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, got P1,650,000 from the PSC and P1 million from the President.
More athletes were given cash incentives by the President Duterte and by the PSC.
Among them are Hidilyn Diaz, the bronze medalist at the 2019 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and silver medalist at the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships. She received P350,000 from the PSC and P500,000 from President Duterte.
Another Filipino boxer, Eumir Felix Marcial got P500,000 from PSC and another P500,000 from President Duterte. Marcial was the silver medalist at the 2019 Association Internationale de Boxe (Boc-SE) Amateur AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships.
The President also handed over incentives to Philippine representatives to the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). Among the awardees were Gerardo M. Mercado, the WCOPA Team Philippines National Director, and Mary Anne Mercado, the Creative Director. Joanna thyRuth P. Miranda, one of the medalists, was also honored Wednesday.
The WCOPA Philippine team bagged 136 gold medals, 86 silver medals, 76 bronze medals, 36 semifinalist medals, and 49 division winner plaques.
The team sent 106 delegates during the 23rd World Championships of Performing Arts held at Long Beach, California last July
(with a Malacanang release)