MANILA, Philippines ? Win the gold medal in Rio and come home a multi-millionaire.
This once-in-a-lifetime prospect faced Filipino boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez yesterday when they appeared before the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey?s Malate.
Under the Incentives Act, any Filipino athlete who can win the gold in the Rio Olympics this August will receive P10 million from the government. Manny V. Pangilinan, the country?s No. 1 sports patron, has dangled a bigger incentive of P12 million.
Pangilinan is chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP). His juicy offer only covers the boxers representing the country in Rio.
Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, on his part, has dangled a P5 million reward to any Filipino athlete that can win the gold in this year?s Olympics.
All combined, any Filipino boxer who will win the gold in Rio stands to receive a staggering and life-changing bonus of P27 million or roughly $587,000. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
?We all dream of this. But it?s up to the Lord. All I can do is strive hard and do my best,? said the 28-year-old Suarez, who will compete in the lightweight division in Rio.
?I will do my best. And if it?s meant for you, then it?s meant for you,? said Ladon, who will vie in the light-flyweight class, said in Filipino.
Head coach Nolito ?Boy? Velasco, who accompanied the two boxers to the forum, said it?s a rare opportunity to be able to compete in the Olympics.
But he said it?s even a greater opportunity to earn as much by winning the gold.
?Aside from bringing honor to the country, that (incentive) is a big motivation. It?s (P27 million) enough to last more than a lifetime. Not only for yourself but your entire family,? he said.
?If I were a boxer, I will give my all,? said Velasco, elder brother of 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Roel Velasco and 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medalist Mansueto Velasco.
?This is my chance,? said Suarez of Davao City. ?I made it to the Olympics. There?s no tomorrow. I look at this as my last chance. I will fight for our country.?
Under Republic Act 10699, a silver in the Olympics is equivalent P5 million and bronze P2 million in cash incentives from the national government.
So far, there are six Filipino athletes with tickets to the Rio Olympics. Aside from Ladon and Suarez, there?s Marestella Torres and Eric Cray of athletics, Ian Lariba of table tennis and Kirstie Alora of taekwondo.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is just waiting for her confirmation as a Rio competitor while a handful more boxers will be vying for slots in qualifying events until June.
Velasco said Suarez and Ladon are now training for the Olympics even as a handful more boxers will see action in Kazakhstan this month and in Azerbaijan next month.
Nesthy Petecio (51 kg) is hoping to become the only female boxer to represent the country in Rio. Other male boxers hoping to make it are Roldan Boncales (52 kg), Mario Fernandez (56 kg), Dennis Galvan (64 kg) and Eumir Felix Marcial (69 kg).
Once the lineup to Rio is finalized, the qualified Pinoy boxers will embark on a massive training either in the United States or Cuba then all the way to Rio.
?From training we head straight to Rio. There?s no turning back. When we return home we may be celebrating our victory,? said Velasco.
In case boxing icon Manny Pacquiao decides to compete in Rio, he will take the place of Galvan and try to win the gold medal in the light-welterweight division.
