At A Glance
- For their outstanding showing that produced 24 medals in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain last year, Filipino rising stars received their well-deserved cash incentives from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Monday, June 29.
For their outstanding showing that produced 24 medals in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain last year, Filipino rising stars received their well-deserved cash incentives from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Monday, June 29.
In a brief awarding of bonuses spearheaded by chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio at the PSC House, 24 athletes and 20 coaches got their financial reward after winning 7 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze medals in the continental meet last October.
Each gold medalist, led by sprinter Pi Durden Wangkay and jiu jitsu ace Isabella Butler, received P500,000, while winners of silver and bronze were handed P250,000 and P100,000, respectively.
More than a financial boost, the bonus should serve as added motivation for the young guns in their future endeavors.
“The reason why we giving incentive sa mga batang athlete… sinisiguro namin na dapat hindi kami ma-technical, for the last 36 years ng PSC ang binibigay lang ng incentive ay ‘yong mga elite athletes,” said Gregorio.
“Pero ito na ang bagong PSC, ito na ang bagong liderato ng mga commissioners at chairman. Ito na ang bagong liderato ng PSC. Walang iniiwan kahit grassroots, from grassroots to gold, from gold to greatness,” he added.
It was the first time the sports agency granted financial rewards for the young athletes after only giving away cash bonuses to the elite level in the previous years.
“Palagay niyo ‘yong mga binibigay naming incentive eh okay na ang career niyo bilang atleta. Kaya nga incentive eh, ang kadugtong niyan motivation,” Gregorio continued. “When you incentivize you motivate, when you motivate, you pursue [for greatness].”
One of the recipients was boys’ 200-meter champion Wangkay, who is bound for the Summer Youth Games in Dakar, Senegal late this year.
“As an athlete, ‘di namin in-expect ‘to, this serves as a motivation po ito keep going and also to remind us to remember why we do the sport; for the country, for ourselves, and for our families,” said Wangkay.