Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Monday urged the nation anew to come out in support of Filipino athletes competing at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, especially those who are still gunning for medals.
Velasco said Filipinos can use the power of social media to pass on their best wishes to national athletes participating in the Olympic Games.
“Our athletes need the support and cheers from all of us to motivate and inspire them to push harder and stretch their limits,” Velasco said.
Velasco said he was glad that more medals are expected to come for the Philippines after the historic gold medal win of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
He cited boxers Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; and gymnast Carlos Yulo, who are all in medal contention in their respective sport events as of Monday morning.
Velasco said the country was also hoping for a podium finish for golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan. Saso is the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion.
The Speaker, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to national athletes who have failed to qualify for medal events, saying “they’ve already made the country proud.”
He thanked skateboarder Margielyn Didal, boxer Irish Magno, weightlifter Elreen Ando, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, rifle shooter Jayson Valdez, sprinter Kristina Knott, judoka Kiyome Watanabe, golfer Juvic Pagunsan, and swimmers Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie.
In his speech at the opening of the third regular session of the 18th Congress last July 26, Velasco called on all Filipinos to support “our courageous Olympians, who are a source of inspiration and pride for the country.”
“Sa ating mga atleta ng bayan: kaisa namin kayo sa puso at diwa habang buong giting na lumalaban kayo para sa ating bansa at watawat. Kayo ang patuloy na nagbibigay liwanag at pag-asa sa ating mga kababayan ngayong panahon ng krisis. Ang bawa't laban ninyo ay tagumpay ng ating bayan. Ang bawa't tagumpay ninyo ay karangalan ng bawa't Pilipino,” Velasco said.
(To our national athletes: we are one with you in heart and mind while you gallantly compete for our country and flag. You continue to shine a bright light and give hope to our countrymen in this time of crisis. Your fight is victory for our country, and your victory is the pride of every Filipino)
Velasco, along with Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, recently filed a resolution institutionalizing the Congressional Medal of Excellence, with Olympic champion Diaz as first recipient of the award.
The congressional award will be given exclusively to Filipino athletes who have won a gold medal in the Olympics.
Velasco had also initiated a “pass the hat” drive among House members to raise up to P10 million in cash incentives for Filipino medalists in the Tokyo Games.
The prize money will be pooled and shall be gifted to all national athletes who would bring home Olympic medals for the country.
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