Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino on Sunday led the turnover and blessing of the house and lot awarded to Filipino boxers who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The three houses and lots, situated beside each other at the humble Olympic lane somewhere in a village in Tagaytay City, was awarded to Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who won silver medals, and Eumir Marcial, who bagged bronze, in the Olympiad.
Also present in the ceremony were the three boxers and their families, as well as Sen. Francis Tolentino.
“This is our gift to these talented athletes for all their hard work and dedication to their chosen field,” said Bambol Tolentino, also a Tagaytay City Representative.
Marcial, Petecio and Paalam thanked the officials who recognized their achievements and hoped that this act of kindness would inspire other athletes to strive harder.
“Sa mga kapwa ko atleta, sana huwag kayong sumuko dahil lahat ng paghihirap natin para bigyan ng karangalan ang bansa, masusuklian naman nga mga biyaya,” said Marcial.
Each house and lot measures around 125 square meters with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a loft.
Marcial said it would be a perfect place to spend their first Christmas together with his wife, whom he wed last October.
Last August, Tolentino has also turned over the two-storey house and lot to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal also in Tokyo.
The house and lot was situated in a different barangay in Tagaytay City.