P12M IN 2012
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Jan 2009
BACOLOD CITY - It was the climax of the ABAP Congress for stakeholders held in the plush L? Fisher Hotel here on January 22. The booming announcement made by Smart-PLDT boss and ABAP Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan that their company will be giving P12 million for the boxer who can win the Olympic gold medal for the Philippines in the 2012 London Olympics.
Gold medalists for world championships will receive P 1 million, for the Southeast Asian Games P300,000 and for the minor international competitions will receive P30,000. Incentives will also be rewarded to the silver and bronze medalists of the said contests. So far in any sport, this is the biggest incentive package offered by a private firm to help entice our athletes to perform exceptionally.
The ABAP Congress was a gathering of the Who?s Who in sports led by the bigwigs of Smart-PLDT. President Ricky Vargas ensured a comprehensive training program that could lead towards the realization of the Olympic dream. Secretary-general Patrick Gregorio presented in detail how ABAP is going to put these plans and programs into action.
Outgoing ABAP president Manny Lopez and outgoing chairman Gov. Raul Daza of Northern Samar executed a very smooth turnover of the ABAP reign symbolized by the ABAP banner received by Pangilinan and Vargas. Lopez became the ABAP vice president and Daza remained as regional chairman for Eastern Visayas.
Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella acknowledged the presence and help of all boxing enthusiasts who spared their time to attend the congress. He announced that the total number of participants in the ongoing Smart ABAP National Amateur Boxing championships have reached 655 out of the expected 400 plus. He is positive that next year, the number could reach more than a thousand boxers and officials.
Presented was a video depicting the performance of the Philippines in the past 84 years, since the country first joined the Olympics in 1924 in Paris, France. Out of the two silver and seven bronze medals won, two silvers and three bronzes were from boxing. So the great possibility that the first Olympic gold will come from boxing is not remote.
Two Olympic medalists were present, the 1992 Barcelona bronze medalist Roel Velasco and 1996 Atlanta silver medalist Mansueto ?Onyok? Velasco. The 1988 Seoul Olympic bronze medalist Leopoldo Serrantes was invited but could not attend due to health problems. The other silver medalist was Anthony Villanueva in 1964 in Tokyo while the other bronze medalist was Jose Villanueva in 1932 in Los Angeles.
There was a dynamic atmosphere in the congregation of all the stakeholders and everybody is very enthusiastic that amateur boxing is headed towards the right direction. With the golden helping hand extended by Smart-PLDT, Philippine amateur boxing has nowhere to go but up.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 202676ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 01 Feb 2026