4 Cebuana athletes to receive cash
Not just one, not two, but four Cebuana athletes will get cash incentives from the Cebu City government for their stirring exploits in the recently concluded 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.
Though skateboard sensation Margielyn Didal has been the only one highlighted to receive cash bonus from the City’s coffers, golfer Lois Kaye Go, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, and taekwondo jin Rinna Babanto will be also get an additional reward for bringing pride and honor not only for the Cebuano community but also for the entire Filipino nation during the two-week sports conclave considered as Asia’s Olympics.
Didal, who is already assured of at least P6 million in cash incentives from the Philippines Sports Commission, Philippines Olympic, and some private sectors, made history for winning the first ever gold medal in women’s skateboarding event that made its debut in Asiad last week, while Go was part of the Philippine team that snared the gilt in women’s golf team event together with Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan.
Kiyomi Watanabe, a Japinay judoka whose mother is a Cebuana, delivered silver medal in the women’s judo event under the -63 kgs. category. She was the first Filipino athlete to win silver in Asiad judo.
Babanto, on the other hand, got bronze in women’s poomsae team event of taekwondo competition together with Juvenile Faye Crisostomo and Janna Dominique Oliva.They were the first ones to hand over medal for Team Phl in the intercontinental event that is being held only once in four years.
Based on the Cash Incentive Scheme authored by councilor Jerry L. Guardo, the City government will shell out P300,000 for Cebuano athletes who won gold medals in the Asian Games, P200,000 for the silver, and P100,000 for the bronze.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved Guardo’s proposal with the hope that the top Cebuano athletes will use it for further training.
Osmeña has also promised a skate park at the South Road Properties where Didal and other Cebuano potential skateboarders can train.
Former Cebu City councilor and board member Raul ‘Yayoy’Alcoseba, who hosted a victory dinner for Didal the other night at Yayoy’s Grill, is hopeful that the facility which Mayor Osmeña promised will push through.
“We won a gold in the Asian Games for skateboarding even if we don’t have a skate park. How much more if we have one? Maayo kaayo tong plano ni Tommy (Osmeña). Maayo gyud unta ug madayon,” said Alcoseba.
Meanwhile, POC Secretary-General Patrick “Pato” Gregorio expressed thanks for the Cebuano athletes’ contributions to Phl’s campaign in the Asian Games. He hopes that more local athletes will be part of the national team and represent the country well in various international events.
Gregorio personally accompanied Didal in her homecoming as he meets the family of the golden girl of skateboarding and explained to them their plans for the Cebuana for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Gregorio is also hoping that skateboarding will be part of next year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in the country.They will need at least three other countries for the event to be included in the biennial meet.