Sen. Bong Go (second from left) and boxing champion Nesthy Petecio pose for photo with PSC commissioners Bong Coo and Ed Hayco, PSC executive director Paulo Tatad and Philip Salvador.
Sen. Go gives incentives to athletes
TOKYO Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and eight other Paris Olympics-bound athletes formally received their P500,000 cash assistance from Sen. Bong Go during simple turnover ceremony at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Aside from Petecio, the other athletes who received their checks from Sen. Go were gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam, rower Joanie Delgaco and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Febuar Ceniza, and Elreen Ann Ando.
Also set to receive financial assistance are pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxer Eumir Marcial, gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo and fencer Sam Catantan, who all qualified for the Paris Olympics scheduled July 26-August 1.
A well-known sports patron even before his election in June 2019, Sen. Go said he was very happy to support the Filipino athletes.
“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Ako ang dapat na magpasalamat dahil sa binigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Hinding-hindi ko pababayaan ang mga atleta,” said the 50-year-old lawmaker from Davao, who plays basketball.
Go urged the athletes to give their best and bring honors to the country because honor is more important than money.
“Kilalang-kilala ang mga Pilipino na laging handang lumaban. Alam kong lalaban kayo, kaya laging go for gold. Nandito lang kami lagi sa likod para suportahan kayo,” added Sen. Go.
PSC commissioners Bong Coo and Edward Hayco and executive director Paolo Tatad also thanked Sen. Go for his support to the Paris-bound Filipino athletes.
“Special thanks to Senator Bong Go for your commitment to enrich our sector as a chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports. Your dedication to be always at the forefront of the fight to better policies and programs for all the athletes deserve to be given a salute,” said Coo.
The PSC, headed by Chairman Richard Bachmann, has allotted P52-million for the Paris Olympics, covering preparation, training, and actual participation, as well as airfare, luggage, and parade uniforms.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz gave the Philippines its first-ever gold medal in the Olympics after winning in Tokyo.
The other Tokyo medalists were boxers Petecio, Paalam and Marcial.
