CEBU’s athletes came up with a performance to remember and helped the Philippines accomplish its mission—to win the overall championship—in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Cebuanos and athletes with roots in Cebu racked up a total of 19 gold medals, 17 silvers and 22 bronzes as Team PHL closed the 11-nation sporting event with 149 gold medals, 117 silvers and 119 bronzes on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.
Athletes from Cebu City who won gold medals may get up to P950,000, up to P500,000 for silver medalists and up to P245,000 for bronze medalists.
Cebuano giants June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter capped off the Cebuanos’ gold medal rush when Team PHL demolished Thailand in the men’s basketball gold medal match on Tuesday night, Dec. 10.
Cue artist Rubilen Amit won her second gold medal with partner Chezka Centeno in the women’s 9-ball doubles.
The duo of Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Cañeda sparked Cebu’s gold medal surge coming up with three gold medals in the dancesport competition at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga on Day 1 of the games.
Margielyn Didal was Cebu’s double gold medalist as she won gold in the women’s Game of Skate and street skate, while fellow Fil-German Daniel Ledermann who traces his roots to Barili bagged a gold medal in the men’s Game of Skate.
James Deiparine, who won a gold medal in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke, also traces his roots to Cebu. The same can be said of Ohio-based pole vault gold medalist Natalie Uy, whose father was from Cebu.
Cebu was not to be outdone in other sports as gymnast Daniela Reggie de la Pisa handed a gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics, Fil-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe extended her SEA Games reign in judo, and Asian gold medalist Lois Kaye Go and partner Bianca Pagdanganan topped the women’s team matchplay.
Their hard work will be rewarded by both the national and local government.
Republic Act (RA) 10699 provides cash incentives for winners of the SEA Games: P300,000, P150,000 and P60,000 for gold, silver and bronze finishes.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to give additional incentives of P250,000 for gold, P150,000 for silver and P100,000 for bronze.
For Cebu City athletes, the local government will shell out P100,000 for gold, P50,000 for silver and P25,000 for bronze.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino earlier said he would match the incentives under RA 10699. (RSC)