THE 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games medalists, first-time visitors and comebackers in Malacañang alike, are excited about their courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday, December 18.
The visit coincides with the awarding of cash incentives to gold, silver and bronze medalists in the recently-concluded Games where host Philippines emerged overall champion after harvesting 149 golds, 117 silvers and 121 bronzes.
Davao City’s Mark Anthony Alcoseba, men’s soft tennis team gold medalist, who will enter the Palace for the first time, said,”Excited kay dako dyod sya natabang sa mga athleta iba dyod iyaha suporta sa amoa (I’m excited because he has been greatly supporting us athletes).”
Alcoseba, a 32-year-old Philippine Army Private First Class, said he’s very proud to meet the President from Davao as the latter himself is a pride of all Dabawenyos.
Women’s boxing featherweight gold medalist Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, also Aiba Women’s World Boxing 2019 champion, said she looks forward to meeting the President anew although she had visited him three or four times in the past.
“Always ko excited jud. Dili ko magsawa nga magpasalamat jud niya sa iyaha tabang katong pamasahe nga gihatag niya sa amoa ni mama padulong Manila (I’m always excited. I won’t get tired thanking him for giving us the fares to go to Manila),” the 27-year-old said, pertaining to the time when her mother Prescilla had to bring her to Manila so she could join the national women’s boxing team. The President then was Davao City mayor.
Kurash silver medalist Sydney Tancontian, a World Youth and Junior Sambo Championships bronze medalist, will be going to Malacañang for the fourth time but she said every time she visits is an anticipation.
The 19-year-old Dabawenya said, “Yes (I’m still excited) kasi this time it’s a different occasion and I’m going there with all the athletes po. Kasi iba parin po feeling na magkakasama po lahat.”
The medalists will reportedly depart the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) compound in Manila at 1 p.m. and will go together to Malacañang with PSC officials led by Chairman William I. Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executives.
By virtue of Republic Act 10699, SEA Games gold, silver and bronze medalists will receive P300,000, P150,000 and P60,000, respectively.
President Duterte, according to a recent PSC press statement, is also expected to award additional incentives of P250,000 (gold), P150,000 (silver) and P100,000 (bronze) to the medalists.