By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Office of the President ensured the Filipino Paralympic athletes who brought pride during the Paris Paralympics will be rewarded after handing them a one-million cash incentive on September 12, 2024.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos welcomed the six PHL Paralympic athletes at the President’s Hall in Malacañang Palace.
Javelin throw representative Cendy Asusano, swimmers Ernie Gawilan & Angel Otom, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, archer Agustina Bantiloc, and taekwondo athlete Allain Ganapin all received a million pesos each after their valiant efforts in the Paralympic event.
Despite not bagging a single medal in the most prestigious sporting event, their impressive runs in Paris still mattered to Malacañangm capped off by several personal records achieved.
Asusano, who suited up in her first-ever Paralympic stint, notched fourth place in the women’s javelin throw event while resetting her personal best to 15.05 meters.
Meanwhile, Otom, another Paralympic rookie swimmer, impressed in her debut after finishing fifth in the women’s 50m butterfly event.
Taekwondo jin Ganapin was so close yet so far in his road to gold but managed to reach the Round of 16 of the men’s 8-kg division.
Gawilan, one of the most experienced para-athletes in the PHL delegation, ranked sixth overall in the men’s 400m freestyle event.
All these cash gifts by the Office of the President are still under Republic Act 10699, an act expanding the coverage of Incentives Granted to National Athletes and Coaches.
