Malacañang was filled with glee as Filipino athletes shone in Saturday's Tokyo 2020 Olympics games with the Philippines getting a shot at another gold medal in the prestigious sports event.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Nesthy Petecio, EJ Obiena, and Carlos Paalam won in their respective events on Saturday, July 31.
In a statement, Roque said Malacañang was one with the Filipino people in celebrating the triumph of Filipino athletes at the Olympics.
"We are one with the Filipino people in rejoicing the performance of our athletes in today's schedule of games of the Tokyo Olympics," he said.
"The whole nation is praying for our athletes as their quest for an Olympic gold medal continues. Go for gold!" he added.
On Saturday, Petecio won the women’s boxing featherweight semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics and securing at least an Olympic Silver medal for the Philippines.
Petecio won via a split decision of 4-1 against her taller rival, Italy’s Irma Testa, allowing her to advance to the women’s feather (54-58kg) gold-medal match.
Obiena, meanwhile, lept into the finals of the Men's Pole Vault after finishing inside the Top 12 for clearing 5.75 meters on his third attempt to join the qualifiers.
Paalam clinched a quarter-finals ticket in the men's boxing flyweight class after scoring a unanimous decision win against fourth-seeded Mohamed Flissi of Algeria in their Round of 16 bouts.
On July 26, the Philippines won its first Olympic Gold medal after Hidilyn Diaz emerged victorious at the 55 kilogram category in the Tokyo Olympics weightlifting competition.