Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) congratulated Nesthy Petecio for bringing honor to the Philippines by winning the silver medal in the women’s featherweight final at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, August 3.
“I honestly think that she won the bout. Be that as it may, I congratulate Nesthy Petecio for again bringing honor to our country,” Lacson said.
Japan’s Sena Irie beat Petecio for the gold in a controversial victory.
Petecio’s silver medal is “the result of years of sacrifice and discipline which our youth should emulate. Boxing was her way of helping her family get out of poverty and she succeeded”, Lacson said.
Petecio equalled the 1996 Olympic medal feat of boxing legend Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco of Negros Occidental.
Benitez said, “I am one with the entire Nation in celebrating the success of our athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics”.
“The Philippines’ performance in this year’s Summer Olympic Games is our best yet since our country first joined in 1924, and only the second time we won two or more medals, the first time being in the Los Angeles 1932 Olympics. We are eternally grateful for the honor and pride the groundbreaking achievement of Filipino athletes bring to our Nation,” he said.
He cited weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who won the country’s first ever Olympic gold, and Petecio.
“Hidilyn and Nesthy are not only icons of woman power but living testaments to the ability to overcome poverty through determination and hard work,” Benitez said.
Boxers Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam are also assured of bronze medals and, alongside EJ Obiena in pole vault, and Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan in golf, are still in contention to win our second gold, he said.
“We join the Nation in praying for their success in their respective events,” he said.
“It is my hope that the achievement of our athletes in the Tokyo Olympics will inspire young athletes in Negros Occidental. It is my dream that Negros Occidental produces future Olympians,” he added.
Benitez said to do this he filed House Bill No. 8036 that aims to establish a National Academy of Sports campus in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, to provide specialized training for athletic youth.
“I hope the House will soon approve this bill so we can start training young Negrense athletes with winning potential, “ he said.*