OLYMPIANS Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan, and Dottie Ardina received their P1 million cash incentive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in simple ceremonies held at Malacañang Palace on Thursday.
The ceremony was held for the four Paris Olympics athletes, who were not present during the first heroes’ welcome last August 13 where non-medalists also received an incentive from the Office of the President.
READ Ruivivar 'really hurt' for not being invited to Manila welcome
Explaining their absence, Ruivivar, Malabuyo, and Finnegan, the country’s female gymnasts in Paris, said they were not invited for the ceremony, with Ruivivar also saying that she was under the impression that it was only for medalists Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas.
Ruivivar arrived in Manila on Thursday morning just in time for the afternoon ceremony.
Ardina herself was also embroiled in a controversy when a video of the golfer complaining about their lack of uniforms for the Olympic golf competition went viral.
Ruivivar finished 40th, Malabuyo 44th, and Finnegan 47th in the women’s all-around qualification of artistic gymnastics, while Ardina placed 13th in the women’s individual stroke play.
Ardina’s fellow golfer Bianca Pagdanganan was absent for the event due to training, but is also expected to receive a P1 million incentive from the Office of the President.
Pagdanganan was also honored in the occasion after she finished fourth in the women’s individual stroke play and narrowly missed winning a bronze medal.
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