President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. honored four Filipino Olympians in a ceremony in Malacañan Palace on Thursday.
The President granted the athletes cash incentives and presidential citations.
The Chief Executive awarded Olympic golfer Dottie Ardina and gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Lauren Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar with PhP1 million from the Office of the President.
Each athlete was also presented with a presidential citation and a jacket.
“Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, presents this Presidential Citation in recognition of exemplary performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics, for demonstrating the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect, and friendship, thereby giving honor and pride to the Filipino nation, and for inspiring Filipino athletes to dream, aspire for, and achieve Olympic feats,” the citation read.
In an interview following the ceremony, the President explained that Thursday’s event was arranged for the athletes who were not able to attend last week’s ceremony.
“Kaya’t sabi namin pareho naman ‘yung kanilang pinaghirapan, so dapat — isama rin natin doon sa lahat ng mga pagtanggap sa ating mga Olympian ng ating ginawa,” President Marcos told reporters.
“Sayang lang hindi nila naabutan ‘yung parada, pero at least lahat ng… Everything else ay nagawa nila. So, we’re happy we were able to do something extra for those that did not make it to the first one,” he added.
Golfer Bianca Pagdanganan was also invited to the event but is presently in the United States. She will also receive the same incentives.
Before the ceremony, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) also handed over a symbolic check worth PhP 1 million to each athlete.
During the Pagbibigay Dangal: A Heroes’ Welcome Celebration for the Philippines’ Paris 2024 Olympians held at Malacañan Palace last week, President Marcos gave double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo PhP20 million and a Presidential Medal of Merit.
Bronze medalists Aira Cordero Villegas and Nesthy Alcayde Petecio received PhP2 million each.
The President also gave PhP1 million each to the rest of the Olympians and P500,000 each to their coaching teams. (PCO) -AL
