Photo credit: PCO

In a touching ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid tribute to 22 Filipino Olympians, recognizing their exceptional achievements with PhP50 million in cash rewards, Medals of Merit, and Presidential Citations. The event was not just about the awards, but a genuine celebration of the athletes' dedication, talent, and the hard work that led them to Olympic glory.

“Kami naman nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat,” President Marcos began, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the athletes. He singled out Carlos Yulo, a double Olympic gold medalist, for his extraordinary performance. "Your performance was just – it deserves two gold medals. And that’s how high a standard we have reached," he said, underscoring the level of excellence Yulo has set for Filipino athletes.

Yulo received a special recognition with P20 million in cash and the prestigious Presidential Medal of Merit. Meanwhile, bronze medalists Aira Cordero Villegas and Nesthy Alcayde Petecio were each awarded PhP2 million, and other Olympians received PhP1 million each. Even the coaching teams, who played a crucial role behind the scenes, were not forgotten, as they were granted PhP500,000 each.

President Marcos also took a moment to acknowledge the often unseen but vital contributions of the coaches, trainers, nutritionists, and the families of the athletes. He recognized that the success of these Olympians was a collective effort, saying, “At alam naman natin na hindi talaga — walang mananalo na atleta na hindi suportado ng katakot-takot na karaming tao na walang iniisip kung papaano kayo tulungan para maging successful.”

He praised the Olympians for embodying the Filipino spirit, determination, and excellence, serving as an inspiration to the nation. Before concluding, President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the development of sports in the Philippines, promising continued technical support from the government to help future athletes reach even greater heights.