INSO, PADUA RECEIVE PHP800K FOR ASIAN GAMES WINS

October 27, 2023 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Two Baguio athletes received this week a total of PhP1.6 million from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. during the Gabi ng Parangal. Gideon Fred Padua and Jones Llabres Inso brought home PhP800,000 for the bronze performance in the Asian Games in Hangzhou last month, twice the supposed amount stipulated in Republic Acto 60899.

Padua, who won the bronze in sanda 65 kilogram, and Inso, taijiquan and taijiajian, were supposed to get PhP400,000 each but the president spurred of the historic performance
of the Philippine team instead doubled what the athletes should be receiving.
Padua, a graduate of the Pines City National High School, and Inso, of Saint Louis University, are
also assured of receiving PhP100,000 from the city for their performances. Their coached are entitled to half of the amount they are to receive.

EJ Obiena, Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, who won gold medals, were the proud recipient of
PhP4 million from the president, double the PhP2 million they were supposed to receive under the law, which also provides discount for national athletes in medical, transportation and accommodation discounts. The Gilas Pilipinas, which broke a 61 year heartache in basketball, after beating Jordan in the finals to claim the gold and each player received PhP1 million each from the supposed PHP500,000 they are to receive under the law.

The Philippine Sports Commission, through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation,
awarded the bonus, which the Office of the President matched, thus doubling the medalists’ cash
reward. Marcos also gave the Filipino medalists –4 gold, 2 silver, and 12 bronze winners– and their
coaches a presidential citation during the “Gabi ng Parangal at Pasasalamat Para sa Bayaning Atletang Pilipino” at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila lasy Wednesday.

The Philippine Olympic Committee had earlier pledged an additional P1 million to gold medalists.
Obiena, the world No. 2 pole vaulter, was recently the recipient of at least P10 million from his
high school alma mater, Chiang Kai Shek College, and the Filipino-Chinese business community.
Silver medalists boxer Eumir Marcial and wushu fighter Arnel Mandal took home a total of P2
million each.

The athletes received a total P41.9 million “Me and the other athletes are inspired to win medals since the national sports associations and the government are there supporting us, as well as the millions of Filipinos,” said Marcial, the first boxer to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and who was recognized by the city and his school, the University of Baguio in 2021 along with his teammates after their medal performances in the Tokyo Olympics.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN