SIX BAGUIO athletes, who were earlier denied of their supposed incentives for winning medals at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, finally got their incentives last week from the Baguio City Government.
“Finally, we can get our incentive,” said arnis player Eza Rai Yalong.
“She has been receiving incentives from the city since she was young,” cried city sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales of the 21-year-old University of Baguio student who won a bronze medal in the Manila SEAG.
Even the cashier who gave her the P10,000 incentive was amazed at how she has grown.
“Maliit pa siya sa akin siya kumukuha ng incentive nya sa Palaro,” the unidentified Baguio city cashier said.
She said she also knows Jenelyn Olsim, one of the six present athletes who got their incentives Friday, November 27 at the Baguio City Hall.
Eight athletes were given the green light to get their supposed cash incentives for winning medals in the last SEAG. There were 21 who earlier got their incentives.
They were joined by kickboxers Jerry Olsim and Jean Claude Saclag, who won gold medal, as well as gold medal winners Leeariel Lampacan (muaythai) and Crisamuel Delfin (arnis ano).
“I have been here since November 20 so I can process the release of my incentive and also for other matters,” said Delfin, who now stays in Rizal where he recently finished his college degree at the Jose Rizal University.
The former NIIT student assistant who nearly waived a possible gold when he refused to wear underwear under his loincloth in the finals of the non-traditional weapon, has recently joined the Philippine Army, aside from carrying the Philippine color in arnis competitions.
“Salamat naman at dumating na,” added Samuel.
Early this month, the city administrator’s office finally approved the release of the SEAG incentives, but eight of the athletes were refused on question of their residency, which are either Benguet or Kalinga.
“I grew up in Baguio, in Irisan and went to the Quirino Elementary School where I learned arnis and has since then represented the city in various competitions (Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association and Palarong Pambansa),” said Yalong, who was also denied a silver medal in the SEAG after she was declared semifinals winners against a Myanmar player only to be told that she lost her match just when the finals was about to start.
“I have known her since she was little and she has been drawing her incentive from the city,” insisted Gonzales. Yalong moved with her family to Ambiong in the La Trinidad side in 2016 but remains to go to UB where she finished her high school and senior high school.
The Olsim siblings are native of Bokod, Benguet but have been residents of San Carlos Heights, Irisan here.
Also included in the second batch of releases are kurash gold winner Estha Gay Liwanen and sambo bronze medalist Mariane Mariano, who are in Manila as enlisted military personnel.
Left out is kickboxing silver medalist Jomar Balangui, who along with Saclag are considered Kalinga athletes despite their proof of residence showing that it is Baguio.
Balangui even went to the Baguio City High School, who early this year, along with Saclag, was recognized by the Kalinga provincial government as outstanding citizens in sport. Him being a Balbalan native and Saclag of Lubuagan.
“I am Kalinga by blood but I am from Baguio,” he insisted.
SEAG gold winner and 2019 world boxing champion Nesthy Petecio is also seeking that she and her fellow boxers get the same incentive.
Petecio is from Davao but has been residing in Baguio for almost 10 years now where she is enrolled at UB. Olympics bound Irish Magno, former world boxing champion Josie Gabuco, Olympics hopeful Carlo Paalam and Aira Villegas are also Baguio residents and UB students.
“I think the Baguio residents will be getting their incentives but not the boxers,” said Paul Rillorta of the city sports office.
“I already submitted my requirements with (the CSO)... however, I think that we are not included,” Petecio told this writer through private message.
Last week, the athletes also started receiving their allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission in full after four months of getting half due to financial straits of the sports body.
They are also expecting to receive their P5,000 bonus early December but are doubtful if they get the refund of half of their allowance the past four months.
“We are happy to get the P5,000 bonus but we doubt if the PSC can give the accumulated 50 percent the past four months because funds are tight (in the PSC). But then we are still hoping,” Yalong added. (SunStar Baguio)