PACQUIAO TO GIVE CASH INCENTIVE TO RIO SILVER MEDALIST HIDILYN DIAZ
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 10 Aug 2016
MAKATI CITY ? Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao revealed he will give cash incentive to Hidilyn Diaz who won a silver medal in the women?s Weightlifting event (53-kilogram division) in the ongoing Rio Olympics.
Senator Pacquiao did not specify how much, saying ?Not really big. The amount will come from my own pocket.?
Senator Pacquiao believes the current Duterte administration will also give cash bonus to Diaz, who virtually put an end to the country?s 20-year medal drought in the Olympic games.
The country?s last Olympic medal was during the 1996 Atlanta Games when Mansueto ?Onyok? Velasco bagged a silver medal in boxing?s Light Flyweight division.
Until now, however, the P2.5 million cash incentive promised by the government has not yet been received by Velasco.
?Malaking karangalan para sa bansa ang ginawa ni Hidilyn Diaz at nararapat lamang na bigyan siya ng parangal at gantimpala,? Senator Pacquiao said.
Senator Pacquiao, chair of Senate Committee on Sports, has vowed to look into the miserable plight of the sports sector in the country to improve the performance of Filipino athletes in international sports competitions.
?Magpapatawag tayo ng committee hearings upang malaman natin kung ano ang nangyayari sa sports sector ng ating bansa,? Senator Pacquiao said.
According to Senator Pacquiao, being an athlete himself, he has first-hand knowledge of what is happening to the country?s sports.
?Kailangang magkaroon ng pagbabago. Modesty aside, sports ang nagbibigay ng malaking karangalan sa bansa noon pa man,? the boxer-lawmaker said.
From being a struggling boxer, Senator Pacquiao ? through hard work, discipline and strong faith in God ? metamorphosed into a global sports icon whose charisma transcended even cultural and racial boundaries.
He promised to institute reforms in the country?s sports beset for years by neglect, corruption and too much politicking.
?We need to take a closer look at the country?s sports program. Something must be done to improve the quality and performance of our athletes,? the neophyte lawmaker said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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