HINDI lamang isa kundi dalawang bahay at lupa ang regalo ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) kay Paris 2024 Olympics double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo.
May brand new bungalows naman sa Tagaytay City sina bronze medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio at Aira Villegas.
“It’s now a tradition, first Hidilyn Diaz [Naranjo] deserved all the best for giving the country its first Olympic gold medal and now, it’s the turn of Caloy [Yulo], Nesthy and Aira to be feted with the same reward for their historic efforts,” pahayag ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Para kay Yulo, ang kanyang dalawang two-storey homes ay itatayo sa isang 500-square meter lot na tinatayang nagkakahalaga ng P15 million, ayon kay POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan.
Ang dalawang bahay ay tatampukan din ng gazebos.
Magiging pangalawang bahay naman ito ni Petecio sa Tagaytay City matapos ang una na kanyang tinanggap para sa kanyang silver sa Tokyo 2020— kapitbahay niya sina fellow silver medalist Carlos Paalam at bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial sa isang compound na tinawag na Olympic Village sa lungsod na nagmula rin kay Tolentino at sa POC.
Ang bungalows nina Petecio at Villegas ay itatayo sa magkahiwalay na 200-square meter lots at tulad ng kay Yulo ay lalagyan ng basic amenities.
“All the rewards and bonuses that go our medalists’ way are well-deserved, it’s not easy to medal in the Olympics, it takes years, it takes focus, discipline and determination,” ani Tolentino.
“These athletes invested their lives into the sports they love and now, they’re reaping the fruits of their sacrifices,” dagdag pa niya.
“The POC doesn’t think twice about these rewards, an Olympic medal, regardless of color, is the most precious medal in sports,” sabi ni Tolentino at pinasalamatan ang POC Board sa pagpapakita ng pasasalamat sa pagsisikap nina Yulo, Petecio at Villegas.