The MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) made good in their promise to reward the country’s Olympic athletes and coaches for their hard work and dedication, releasing a total of P40.5 million just days after the conclusion of the quadrennial sports extravaganza.
At the top of the list was gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz who received a cool P10 million while silver medalists, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam got P5 million each. Bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial got P2 million.
“It’s a breakthrough and a milestone event for Philippine sports as we've had our best medal haul including our first-ever gold,” said MVPSF Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.
“It is only right for the nation and the athletes to celebrate what has been achieved. Once the celebration settles, we go back to work.”
“Much more will be expected from us in Paris,” added Ricky Vargas, a member of the MVPSF Board of Trustees and the President of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).
“After giving our athletes enough time to celebrate and rest, the athletes will be preparing for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games."
The coaches were also rewarded, with the MVPSF allotting a total of P11 million to them.
“The MVPSF knows that it takes a village to win a medal in the Olympics. It takes combined efforts from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the private sector to help our athletes succeed," said MVPSF President Al Panlilio.
“The coaches also sacrificed as they were away from their families as much as the athletes so they should also be compensated for their athletes’ success.”
In collaboration with the POC, the other 15 Filipino Olympians who were not able to win medals will receive P500,000 each. A total of P7.5-million will be given by the MVPSF to the POC through President Abraham “Bambol" Tolentino.
The 15 other members of Team Philippines are gymnast Caloy Yulo; weightlifter Elreen Ando; skateboarder Margie Didal; golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Juvic Pagunsan; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule; boxer Irish Magno; rower Cris Nievarez; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; sprinter Kristina Knott; jin Kurt Barbosa; and shooter Jayson Valdez.
“In the past 10 years, the MVP Sports Foundation has spent more than two billion pesos in total,” said Pangilinan, whose organization has aided athletes from different sports in the past decade, culminating in the Philippines four-medal haul in the Tokyo Olympics.
“Our investment in the country's sports development is all worth it when we see the effort of our athletes to represent the country to the best of their abilities. The victories they achieve and the pride they give our country are priceless.” (JNP)