FOR the gold winners and medalists of Team Philippines in the just-concluded 3rd Asian Youth Games, Christmas came a month early.
The Philippine Sports Commission announced an incentive package to all medal finishers in Bahrain, including P500,000 to each of the seven gold medalists that helped the country finish 12th overall in the 45-nation meet.
READ Team PH matches best finish in AYG even with seven-gold haul
PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio announced the good news during the official presentation of the Philippine contingent on Monday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and secretary general Atty. Wharton Chan presented the medalists before the PSC chief, who responded by revealing the cash incentives to be given out to the young athletes.
“On behalf of the Philippine Sports Commission…meron ba akong dapat i-announce?” Gregorio joked before revealing the financial bonuses that came 52 days before Christmas.
“The Office of the President in partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, we announce a reward that all gold medalists will get P500,000, all silver medalists P300,000, and bronze medalists P100,000. Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino.”
The financial reward was unexpected as RA 10699 otherwise known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act only covers elite and senior athletes who won medals in overseas campaigns.
Not to be outdone, Tolentino said the POC will give at least half of the financial reward given out by the government sports agency - P250,000 for gold medalists, P150,000 for silver, and P75,000 for bronze.
On top of that, all gold medal winners will receive iPhone 17 Pro Max, while iPhone 17 are to be given to silver and bronze medalists, courtesy of Sportsplus, the official gaming partner of the POC.
Gold winners for the Philippine contingent include Charlie Ratcliff (mixed martial arts), PI Durden Wangkay (athletics), Kram Airam Carpio (pencak silat), Isabella Joseline Butler (jiu-jitsu), Lyre Anie Ngina (muay), Zeth Gabriel Bueno (muay), and the mixed team of Jan Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo (muay).
The 17-year-old Ramiscal will receive the biggest financial reward from the combined windfall from the PSC and POC amounting to P825,000 as he also won a silver medal in muay, followed by Jhodie Peralta with P625,000 for bagging a silver and bronze in weightlifting.
Both Ramiscal and Peralta were the double medalists for Team Philippines, which paraded a strong 200-man athletes.
Other silver winners were Naomi Cesar (athletics), Travis Ratcliffe (mixed martial arts), Kristen Aguila (taekwondo), Jamesray Ajido (swimming), Jasmine Dagami (muay), and Jhodie Peralta (weightlifting).
Bronze achievers were Ivesha Blair Bituin (muay), Leo Mhar Lobrido (boxing), Aeden Cereno (taekwondo), Crystal Carino and Nicole Tabued (teqball), Alexander Tagure Jr. (mixed martial arts), Peralta (weightlifting), Jay-r Colonia (weightlifting), Alexsandra Ann Diaz (weightlifting), Princess Ann Diaz (weightlifting).
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