2008-08-05 10:41:24 -
Philippine Olympic hopefuls given incentive of a car to bring home medals
By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA www.balitapinoy.net
Two companies promised on Monday to give a brand new Toyota Vios not only to a gold medalist but to any Filipino athlete who can win the first silver medal in the Beijing Olympic Games slated Aug. 8-24.
JB Music and Sports Inc. vice president for sales and operations Jerico Fernando and Toyota Balintawak Inc. executive vice
president Cosco Oben announced their joint undertaking in front of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officials headed by chairman William Ramirez during a press briefing at the PSC boardroom.
New PSC commissioner Akiko Thomson and JB Music and Sports marketing chief Jean Fernando were also present during the pledging session which is expected to inspire more the 15 Beijing-bound Filipino athletes.
'For the love of sports, it's our way of inspiring our athletes to give their best during the Games,' Jerico Fernando said.
'As a way of thanking our athletes for their sacrifices and hard work, we promised to give brand new Toyota Vios for first silver medalist and for the gold winner in Beijing Olympics,' Oben, for his part, said.
Ramirez expressed gratitude to the two companies which pooled in resources to motivate the Filipino athletes in their quest to end the country's 84-year drought for the first Olympic gold medal.
'In behalf of our athletes bound for Beijing, we salute the JB Music and Sports and Toyota Balintawak for pledging a brand new Toyota Vios not only for first silver winner but for all Filipino gold medalists in Beijing,' Ramirez said.
The brand new car is an addition to the P15-million cash incentives promised earlier by the government and private sector for the Filipino gold medalist in the Beijing.
Aside from the P5 million cash bonus as mandated by law, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also pledged additional P4.5 million government incentive.
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, father and son Reghis and Mikee Romero, Microsoft, sports apparel No Fear and businessman Lucio Tan guranteed P1 million while the Philippine Sportswriters Association through Brickroad Gym promised P500,000.
Among the Filipino athletes bound for Beijing include: taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero; boxer Harry Taņamor; swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo and Christel Simms; divers Sheila Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga; long jumpers Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres; archer Mark Javier; shooter Eric Ang; and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
The Philippines' highest finish in the Olympics were two silver medals courtesy of boxers Anthony Villanueva (1964, Tokyo) and Mansueto Velasco (1996, Atlanta).
Top local officials are banking on Tanamor and taekwondo jins Rivero and Go to bring home the elusive Olympic gold medal.
