THE commitment has transformed into a tradition as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) gifts Paris 2024 Olympics double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo not one but two houses-and-lots while bronze medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will soon walk into their brand new bungalows in Tagaytay City.

“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,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.

For Yulo, his two two-storey homes would sit on a 500-square meter lot appraised at around P15 million, according to POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan.

These new homes will also be highlighted with gazebos, Tolentino said.

For Petecio, it would be her second home in Tagaytay City after the first one she received for her silver from Tokyo 2020—she’s neighbor to fellow silver medalist Carlos Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial in a compound aptly called Olympic Village in the city also courtesy of Tolentino and the POC.

Petecio and Villegas’s bungalows will rise on separate 200-square meter lots and just like Yulo’s, will be furnished with basic amenities, according to Tolentino.

“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,” Tolentino said.

“These athletes invested their lives into the sports they love and now, they’re reaping the fruits of their sacrifices,” he added.

Tolentino withheld announcing the locations of the homes but would be turning over the keys to the medalist Olympians in a ceremony fit for champions.

“The POC doesn’t think twice about these rewards, an Olympic medal, regardless of color, is the most precious medal in sports,” said Tolentino as he thanked the POC Board for showing full gratitude to the efforts of Yulo, Petecio and Villegas.

MANILA – Aira Villegas’ remarkable journey in the women’s 50-kilogram boxing division at the Paris Olympics came to an end early Wednesday (Philippine Time) after a semifinal loss to Turkiye’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu. The entire boxing event was held at the iconic Roland Garros Stadium in downtown Paris.

Despite the defeat, Villegas will bring home the bronze medal.

Cakiroglu, the third seed in the competition, proved to be a formidable opponent for Villegas. She demonstrated superior accuracy from the first round, delivering a right straight at the 2:22 mark that wobbled Villegas, prompting referee Wade Peterson to issue a standing eight-count.

Villegas seemed to have a breakthrough moment just before the final minute of Round 2 with a right hook that appeared to knock Cakiroglu down. However, Peterson, whose judging in bouts involving Filipino fighters has been criticized by some boxing fans, ruled it a slip. All five judges still awarded the round to Cakiroglu.

In Round 3, Villegas was unable to overcome Cakiroglu’s dominance, and the judges unanimously scored perfect 30s in favor of the Turkish boxer. Cakiroglu will now face top-seeded Chinese boxer Wu Yu, who won a 4-1 split decision over Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, for the gold medal early Saturday (Philippine Time).

Judges Radoslav Simon and Manuel Vilarino both scored one round each as if Villegas was knocked down, with Simon giving a 10-8 score in Round 1 and Vilarino doing the same in Round 3.

Despite the setback, Villegas’ performance earned her a well-deserved bronze medal, marking a significant achievement for the Filipino athlete.

ia/mnm

MANILA — Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas have clinched their tickets to Paris this July following their stellar performances at the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Tuesday (12 March 2024).

Petecio demonstrated her prowess by defeating Turkey’s Esra Yildiz with a score of 4-1 in the semifinals of the women’s 57kg category, earning herself a return trip to the Olympics after securing the silver medal in Tokyo.

“I feel incredibly blessed. This opportunity is immensely important to me, especially considering it might be my final Olympics,” Petecio shared in an interview with olympics.com.

“I dedicate this victory to so many individuals, particularly my family, to God, and to the memory of our former President who has passed away, Ed Picson, as well as to my life partner. Before the tournament, I made a promise to her that I would secure a spot for Paris, and finally, here we are! I am overjoyed,” added the 31-year-old from Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.

“I am determined to pursue the Olympic gold medal,” Petecio affirmed.

Meanwhile, Villegas secured her place with a decisive 5-0 victory over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg class.

Petecio and Villegas will join their compatriots, including fellow boxer and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and gymnasts Carlo Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, in the Paris Summer Games scheduled from July 26 to August 11.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — Filipino female boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio are on the brink of securing berths for the Paris Olympics in July this year following impressive victories in the 2024 1st World Qualification Tournament held in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

Villegas advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg category after a commanding win over Sofie Rosshaug of Denmark, securing a unanimous decision victory on Sunday, March 10.

A triumph in the quarterfinals against Zlatislava Chukanova of Bulgaria on Tuesday, March 12 (Manila time) will secure Villegas’ ticket to the Olympics, with the top four boxers in the women’s 50kg division advancing to the Paris Games.

Meanwhile, Petecio, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, moved one step closer to her Olympic return by defeating Maud van der Toorn of the Netherlands in the women’s 57kg quarterfinals.

To secure her place in the Paris Games, Petecio must overcome Esra Yildiz of Turkey in the semifinals, also scheduled for early Tuesday (Manila time), with only the finalists in the women’s 57kg category progressing to the Olympics.

Unfortunately, Petecio’s fellow Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam exited the tournament after succumbing to Kiaran MacDonald of Great Britain in the men’s 57kg round of 16 on Tuesday.

However, Paalam’s hopes for Olympic qualification remain alive, with another opportunity in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament scheduled for May.

(By el Amigo/MNM)