WHEN NESTHY Petecio goes back home, she will be welcomed with a lot of blessings for bagging an Olympic silver medal on Tuesday after the final round of women’s boxing featherweight bout of Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.
Petecio fought her way up against an “unathletic” Japanese Irie Sena but couldn’t get the nod of the judges, losing via unanimous decision to get the country’s first silver medal in the Tokyo Games. Despite the defeat, the entire nation appreciated her performance including the private and the government sectors.
An expected P5 million cash bonuses each will be given away by the national government based on the Republic Act 10699 (athletes incentives act), San Miguel Corporation owner Ramon S. Ang and businessman Manny V. Pangilinan to the 29-year-old pug from Davao del Sur.
“Congratulations to Nesthy Petecio for winning the Tokyo Olympics silver medal in Women’s Featherweight boxing! Yours is a historic win for being the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal in boxing since we joined the Olympics almost a century ago,” Senator Bong Go said in a statement sent to the media.
“As a fellow Dabawenyo and the chairman of Senate Sports Committee, I praise your bravery and great boxing skills inside the ring,” he added. “With your unrelenting spirit, determination and competitiveness, you are one of the beacons that keep inspiring our people, especially our youth, amid trying times. Long live Nesthy!”
Besides that P15 million total, AirAsia awarded Petecio five years of unlimited flights for becoming the first ever Filipina boxer to win a silver medal in the Olympics. Partylist Congressman Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman, also the owner of AirAsia, will be adding P2 million cash incentives for Petecio.
“You definitely punched your mightiest to win this recognition for the Philippines. Your victory is an inspiration to everyone battling the pandemic to continue and never give up on the fight no matter what,” AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said.
Aside from providing lifetime unlimited flights for gold medal winners, AirAsia will award those who win silver with five years of unlimited flights and two years of unlimited flights for bronze winners.
There is also a free three-round trip tickets (non-transferrable) to any AirAsia domestic destinations to the other Filipino athletes who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
AirAsia recently awarded Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz with Lifetime unlimited flights.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Petroleum – through Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Foundation – will be sending Petecio a P3 million cash rewards for her historic accomplishment by becoming the third Filipino boxer to win an Olympic silver medal after Monsueto “Onyok” Velasco in 1996 and Anthony Villanueva in 1964.
“We would like to congratulate Nesthy for a job well done. As the first Filipina ever to win a boxing medal at the Olympics, this is such a great achievement, and another source of pride for our country,” Phoenix Petroleum Senior Vice President Atty. Raymond Zorrilla said.
“Phoenix is happy to support our Olympic athletes because of the honor they give to the country, so we are glad to reward this cash incentive to Nesthy,” he added.
Ovialand had already pledged also a house and lot worth P2.5 million and Andrew Tan’s Suntrust will provide her a condominium unit inside the Davao Park District. The Philippine Airlines will also provide Petecio with 60,000 Mabuhay Miles per year for her lifetime or the Forever Flyer reward.
With reports from Recto Mercene, Butch Fernandez