Friday, February 01, 2008 Cash bonus surprises Cartera
ASEAN triple bronze medalist Smith Cartera of Sasa, Davao City said he was caught by surprise when members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, with Councilor Paolo Duterte initiating the move, handed him a total of P48,000 cash as incentive for his feat in Thailand.
"I'm really surprised. I went there during the City Council session Tuesday to pay a courtesy call and present my medals to the SP members. I thought I'll just be recognized. But I did not expect that they will give me a reward when I was called to join them at the session hall," Cartera told members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) during their weekly sports forum at the Tower Inn yesterday.
Cartera went on to say: "Dako kaayo akong pasalamat sa ilang tabang ug suporta nako (I'm very grateful for their support)."
Duterte, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Davao City, first gave Cartera P30,000 from his own pocket while the rest of the SP members also gave their share.
Cartera's stint in the Thailand was his second exposure in the Para Games, a competition for athletes with handicap.
"My first Para-Games was in Manila in 2005. I played in the basketball-on-wheels at that time. I shifted to table tennis in Thailand where I and my partner Darwin Salvacion of Bukidnon got the bronze medals in doubles class 4, doubles class 5 and open doubles events."
Another athlete from Davao, Henry Lopez, also brought honor to the city during the Para Games.
Lopez won a gold and a silver in chess and was also the guest during the regular DSA Forum Thursday. (MLSA)
