House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (center) shares a historic moment with 2020 Olympic medalists (from left) boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz as well as boxing silver medalists
Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam during an appreciation lunch and meeting at the office of Speaker Lord Alan Velasco. Photo by VER NOVENO
House cites PH Olympic medalists
THE House of Representatives led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday formally conferred the first Congressional Medal of Excellence on weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics while boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam as sell as boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial were awarded with the Congressional Medals of Distinction.
The four Olympic medalists personally received their awards from Velasco after House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, acting floor leader, read the separate resolutions of their citations that were earlier adopted by the House of Representatives.
“These sports heroes deserve to be recognized and commended for bringing pride, honor and inspiration especially to young Filipinos who want to excel in their fields,” said Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules.
“Their achievements inspired many to soar to greater heights and achieve great success in life. They have overcome many trials and challenges thru hard work and determination, thereby contributing to, if not restoring, national pride, dignity and self-respect. Salamat po sa inyong mga sakripisyo at pagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa, Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial,” Romualdez added.
The Velasco leadership also acknowledged the huge contributions of Deputy Speaker Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee; and dedicated trainees and coaches led by 1996 Atlanta Olympics Silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, Jr.; Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez, 2020 Tokyo Olympics Chef De Mission Mariano Araneta, Jr., PoC Commissioner Celia Kiram, PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco, Boxing Team led by Olympic Head Coach Donald Walter Abnett, Head Coach for Men Ronald Chavez, Head Coach for Women Nolito Velasco, Coaches Elmer Pamisa and Reynaldo Galido, and Mental Performance Coach Marcus Jarwin Manalo; and Weightlifting Team that includes Sports Psychologist Karen Katrina V. Trinidad, Coaches Kaiwen Gao and Julius Irvin Hikaru Takamura Naranjo, and Nutritionist for both Boxing and Weightlifting Jeaneth Aro.
On August 2, 2021, Romualdez said “the House of Representatives adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 198 to express its congratulations and deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Philippine Olympic Delegation for the highly successful and historic performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”
Romualdez said the House adopted HR No. 193 on August 2, 2021 to congratulate, commend, and confer the first Congressional Medal of Excellence to Diaz for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold.
On August 25, 2021, Romualdez said the House adopted HR No. 195 to confer the Congressional Medal of Distinction to Petecio for winning the first-ever silver medal in women’s boxing.
On the same day, Romualdez said the House adopted HR No. 196 to confer the Congressional Medal of Distinction to Paalam for winning the silver medal in the men’s flyweight division.
Romualdez said the House of Representatives also adopted HR No. 197 on August 25, 2021 to confer Congressional Medal of Distinction to Marcial for capturing the bronze medal in the men’s boxing middleweight division.
