Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a resolution seeking to bestow the Senate Medal of Excellence to Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio who both won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Estrada said both Filipina boxers deserve to be conferred the Senate’s prestigious recognition for their gallant fight in the ongoing Paris Olympics.

The senator said Villegas deserve the medal as she won against 2021 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Türkiye and bagged the bronze medal during the semifinals of the women’s 50kg division.

“Villegas exemplifies the Filipinos’ grit, tenacity, and unyielding spirit in conquering formidable foes and adversities. Her glorious victory proves that the Philippines continues to be a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with in boxing,” the Senate leader said in his Senate Resolution No. 1117.

For bringing anew honor and prestige to the country in the Paris Olympics, Estarada said Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio should also be conferred the Senate Medal of Excellence.

Hours after Petecio was named bronze medalist in the women’s 57kg division, Estrada filed Senate Resolution No. 1122 seeking to confer her with the highest expression of national appreciation for the honor she has brought to the country due to her outstanding and distinguished achievement.

“Petecio embodied relentless pursuit of excellence with her mantra ‘walang hinto hangga’t walang ginto,’ (no stopping until there is no gold) and many years of hard work and intense training since taking up the sport competitively in 2007,” Estrada said.

“The two-time Olympic medalist has proven herself as a world-class athlete as she has consistently brought pride to the country with her strong performances in the ring,” Estrada said.

He pointed out that Petecio was also a titleholder of the AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championship in 2019, a three-time Asian championship medalist and two-time Southeast Asian Games champion.

Estrada has earlier filed two Senate resolutions seeking to confer the Medal of Excellence to Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo for his extraordinary feat in the Paris Olympics.

Hannah Torregoza

Senate medal of excellence sought for bronze medalists Aira Villegas, Nesthy Petecio