SUPPORT has started to pour for Cris Nievarez’s campaign in the Tokyo Olympics with two members of the House of Representatives providing the rower cash incentives for his training program.
Quezon Fourth District Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan and GP Partylist Representative Jose Gay “GP” Padiernos handed the incentives to Nievarez on Monday at the Philippine Rowing Association Headquarters at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
PRA President Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and Nievarez’s mom Shirley were on hand to witness the simple turnover ceremony.
“My heartfelt gratitude to Congressman GP and Congresswoman Helen. This inspires me even more to work harder in training,” said Nievarez, a native of Atimonan in Quezon province.
Tan pledged to extend whatever assistance Nievarez will be needing for his preparation and participation in the men’s single sculls event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Tan noted that it never came to her to think twice about providing Nievarez the needed incentive because the Filipino rower reminds her of her humble beginnings.
“Chris and I came from poor families. But through faith, hard work and commitment to excellence, we both overcame the odds and won,” Tan said. “May the determination and resilience of our new Olympic idol despite the many setbacks serve as inspiration for the younger athletes to strive better and for all Filipinos to never give up.”
“This assistance comes from the heart,” Padiernos said. “Rowing is an ideal sport, we need to support it.”
Nievarez’s also thanked Tan and Padiernos for supporting his son’s journey to the Olympics.
“This will go far for Cris, especially that we don’t have much in life,” said the elder Nievarez, who cried during the ceremony.
“We hope that this much-needed financial boost will inspire our 20-year-old Filipino rower to stay focused on training and to keep himself competition-ready for the Tokyo Olympics,” Gregorio said. “With the help of the government and private individuals, we want to keep this momentum going and move a step closer in promoting the sports of rowing in the country.”
Nievarez is only the third Filipino rower in the Olympics after Benjamin “Benjie” Tolentino in Sydney 2000 and Edgardo Maerina in Seoul 1988.