SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go personally welcomed the return of four Filipino boxers who participated at the Tokyo Olympic Games bringing with them two silver and one bronze medals.
Go, who also joined President Rodrigo Duterte in a video courtesy call, extended his sincerest congratulations to the Olympians and their teams for their inspiring performances and achievements which brought honor and distinction to the country.
“As Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, I assure you of my unrelenting and wholehearted support and to the entire sports community,” Go said in a message.
Go presented to silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno new watches as tokens of his gratitude and appreciation.
The Philippines finished 50th in the medals race in Tokyo to emerge as the top performing Southeast Asian nation at the Olympics with four medals topped by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s gold.
It was the country’s biggest medal haul since it joined the Olympics in 1924.
In recognition of the athletes’ historic performance, President Duterte announced additional cash incentives from the Office of the President during the virtual courtesy call.
He gave Paalam and Petecio P2 million each, Marcial P1 million and the 15 other Olympians, including Magno, P200,000 apiece.
The athletes, accompanied aboard Philippine Airlines Flight 427 by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, were also greeted by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Celia Kiram, POC First Vice President Alfredo Panlilio, Association of Boxing Alliance in the Philippines President Ricky Vargas and his Secretary General Edgar Picson and Philippine Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Allen Trio Paredes.