MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wished Filipino athletes competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France the best of luck.
During his 3rd State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, President Marcos lauded the 28 athletes who will represent the country in the Summer Games.
“As we speak, 28 of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines,” the Chief Executive said during his address. “Let us wish them well and the best of luck.”
A total of 22 athletes have qualified for the Paris Olympics namely boxers Aira Villegas, Carlo Paalam, Eumir Marcial, Hergie Bacyadan, and Nesthy Petecio; gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar; weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza, and Vanessa Sarno; golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman; swimmers Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; rower Joanie Delgaco; and fencer Sam Catantan.
Six Filipino athletes, namely Agustina Bantiloc, Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Ernie Gawilan, Angel Otom, and Allain Ganapin, have earned their qualification for the Paris Paralympics.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, meanwhile, thanked President Marcos for including the Filipino athletes in his close to two hours of SONA.
“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics,” Tolentino said. “It’s definitely inspiring and it’s an extreme boost to the morale not only to our athletes competing in Paris, but to the entire Philippine sports.”
“This may be exaggerated but the President putting emphasis on sports in a very important event in his administration — something that’s never been done by past Presidents in memory— gives us the goose bumps,” he added.
Tolentino further said he is very grateful to the President for showing his love and concern for sports.
“We, at the POC and Philippine sports as a whole, continuously thank his Administration for relentlessly supporting sports through his financial support,” Tolentino said./PN
