Senate confers medal of excellence on Yulo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday conferred medals of excellence on Paris Olympics two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo and bronze medalists Nesty Petecio and Aira Villegas.

Yulo also received P1.5 million cash incentive from the senators while Petecio and Villegas got P1 million each.

Yulo, a gymnast, bagged gold medals in the floor and vault exercises, while Petecio and Villegas won bronze in boxing.

The Senate on Aug. 14 adopted resolutions congratulating the 22 Filipino athletes «for their impressive performance» in the Paris Olympics. They received the resolutions during their visit to the Senate.

Other athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics were fencer Samantha Catantan, swimmers Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez, trackster Lauren Hoffman, hurdler John Cabang Tolentino, boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan, weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ann Ando and Vanessa Palomar Sarno, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, rower Joanie Delgaco, and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina and gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar.

«The historic and record-breaking achievements by the Filipino Olympians, which can be considered as the country's best Olympics stint in history, proves that Filipinos are among the best and brightest in the global arena of sports,» Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. said in his resolution.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, an athlete herself, said «Olympians are not made overnight, but through years of relentless effort and sacrifice.»