The four Filipino athletes who made history by bagging medals during the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo were conferred with the highest honor from the House of Representatives.
The lower chamber conferred the first Congressional Medal of Excellence to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympiad, while boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial were awarded with the Congressional Medal of Distinction.
The four Olympic medalists personally went to the House of Representatives to receive their awards from House leaders, led by
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco after House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, acting floor leader, read the resolutions of
their citations that were earlier adopted by the House.
“These sports heroes deserve to be recognized and commended for bringing pride, honor and inspiration especially to young Filipinos who want to excel in their fields,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said.
“Their achievements inspired many to soar to greater heights and achieve great success in life. They have overcome many trials and challenges thru hard work and determination, thereby contributing to, if not restoring, national pride, dignity and self-respect. Salamat po sa inyong mga sakripisyo at pagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa,” Romualdez added.
The House leaders also acknowledged the presence of Deputy Speaker Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee; and dedicated trainees and coaches led by 1996 Atlanta Olympics Silver Medalist Mansueto Velasco, Jr.; Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez; 2020 Tokyo Olympics Chef De Mission Mariano Araneta, Jr.; PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram; PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco; the Boxing Team, led by Olympic Head Coach Donald Walter Abnett; Head Coach for Men Ronald Chavez; Head Coach for Women Nolito Velasco; Coaches Elmer Pamisa and Reynaldo Galido; Mental Performance Coach Marcus Jarwin Manalo; and Weightlifting Team that includes Sports Psychologist Karen Katrina Trinidad; Coaches Kaiwen Gao and Julius Irvin Hikaru Takamura Naranjo; and Nutritionist for both Boxing and Weightlifting Jeaneth Aro.
On August 2, 2021, Romualdez said the House adopted House Resolution 198 “to express its congratulations and deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Philippine Olympic Delegation for the highly successful and historic performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”
Romualdez said the House adopted HR 193 on August 2, 2021 to congratulate, commend, and confer the first Congressional Medal of Excellence to Diaz for winning the country’s first ever Olympic gold.
On August 25, 2021, Romualdez said the House adopted HR 195 to confer the Congressional Medal of Distinction to Petecio for bagging the first-ever silver medal in women’s boxing.
On the same day, Romualdez said the House adopted HR 196 to confer the Congressional Medal of Distinction to Paalam for winning the silver medal in the men’s flyweight division.
Romualdez said the lower chamber also adopted HR 197 on August 25, 2021 to confer Congressional Medal of Distinction to Marcial for capturing the bronze medal in the men’s boxing middleweight division.
Meanwhile, Velasco handed out to the four Olympic medalists the congressional medals and framed copies of the House-adopted resolutions congratulating and giving them congressional honor.
In his speech at the House plenary, Speaker Velasco commended the Olympic medalists for having “shown the world what Filipinos can achieve, despite facing the most difficult of circumstances.”
According to the Speaker, the “determination and fighting spirit” of these exceptional Filipino Olympians “have inspired countless Filipinos during these trying times.”
He added: “You gave us hope. You gave us something to dream about. And in those shining moments of triumph, you have all made our kababayans young and old, residing here or abroad, extremely proud to be called Filipinos.”
Also at the plenary, Speaker Velasco announced the adoption of House Resolution 198 congratulating and thanking the women and men of the Philippine delegation for their highly successful and historic performance in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
A framed copy of the resolution was received by POC president Tolentino and PSC chair Ramirez, on behalf of the Philippine Olympic delegation.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Velasco warmly received Diaz and company during a courtesy call in his office.
