We Love You: Nesthy and Eumir!

Olympic Silver Medalist Nesthy Petecio
Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

Written by

Jude Bautista

What should have been the happiest day of her life seemed like the saddest. Nesthy Petecio had gone farther than any Pinay boxer to win the silver medal in the women’s featherweight division (54-57kg / 119-126 lbs) of the Tokyo Olympics.

She was, however, sobbing. Her tears, a mixture of disappointment and joy. She wanted to get the gold more than anything in the world. Days after the historic achievement of Hidilyn Diaz in Weightlifting.

The whole nation is proud of her.

But we could also feel her pain. Unlike weightlifting, where you either make the lift or not, basketball, make the shot or not, boxing is subject to the scores of judges.

Olympic Silver Medalist Nesthy Petecio
Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

Her opponent Irie Sane was aggressive in the get go. The punches, however, came in flurries without accuracy and more importantly without power. The Japanese seemed more concerned with throwing punches, than landing them. The term in Filipino – bara bara.

Nesthy was more patient, more technical waiting for that split second opening and then landing the harder more accurate punches. Because of this Nesthy was able to hurt Sane several times in different rounds.

Amateur boxing, prioritizes volume of punches thrown rather than the quality. Had it been a pro fight or MMA, Nesthy would have been judged the winner. Because she was able to hurt her opponent and the better quality of her punches.

Olympic Silver Medalist Nesthy Petecio
Photo from Official PAL fb: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineAirlines/

Nesthy knew how close she was winning the gold. In the eyes of her kababayan she already has. The Silver? We’ll take it. We’re happy, we’re proud. This is the best medal haul for Philippine boxing in the Olympics. Hold your head up high Nesthy, Eumir. We love you!

Glorious Brutality

Another difference between boxing and other sports is the glorious brutality. Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Irish Magno all expect to take hundreds of hard punches to the face and body. That’s every single time they climb the ring. It’s the sport where you have to be tough enough to take it as well as give it. That’s why it’s so exciting.

Olympic Bronze Medalist Eumir Marcial
Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

I couldn’t think of a more enthralling, exciting run than Eumir Marcial had in the Tokyo Olympics. He knocked out two of his opponents in the first round: Younes Nemouchi of Algeria and Arman Darchinyan of Armenia. The Armenian had a well-known last name in Darchinyan. He is the nephew of former World Flyweight and Super Flyweight champion  Vic Darchinyan.

In the quarterfinals, Eumir Marcial landed clean jab and left hook combos so fast. Darchinyan was not even aware he was hurt. The ref had to help him up and tell him, he had been knocked out in the first round.

Olympic Bronze Medalist Eumir Marcial
Photo from Official PAL fb: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineAirlines/

The semifinal round of Eumir was similar to Nesthy’s fight. Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak came out guns blazing, throwing punch after punch. Eumir, stayed in the pocket looking for the opening and countering with the more powerful blows. He did land the jab, hook combos. I think, both Eumir and Nesthy had the intention of knocking out their opponents.

Problem there is, volume seems to score more in amateur bouts. They stuck to their game plan as long as they could. Eumir suffered a cut from an accidental head clash on the second round. Going back to the glorious brutality of boxing, this is where our fighters literally bleed to win for our country.

Olympic Bronze Medalist Eumir Marcial
Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

The Ukrainian won by decision and eliminated him from the finals. But earned a bronze for Eumir. Again, it was a fight that could have gone either way. IF it was based on quality punches, if it was based on delivering the hurt, Eumir would have easily won.

Olympic Bronze Medalist Eumir Marcial
Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

Onyok

After taking the punches and bleeding for our country, our past boxers have not been sufficiently rewarded for their efforts. An example of this is silver medalist Onyok Velasco who earned it in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And yet he never received the promised P2.5 million pesos by Congress at the time.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, they will look into providing the necessary monetary rewards for Onyok Velasco.  “It’s difficult to promise on the failed promise of the past administration but we will trace the effectivity of the law giving PHP10 million,” he said.

Onyok Velasco got his covid vaccination last July 14, 2021. Photo from:
Onyokvelasco insta https://www.instagram.com/p/CRTm85pDOCW/

Under Republic Act (RA) 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalists are entitled to PHP10 million, PHP5 million, and PHP2 million, respectively. The law was signed on Nov. 13, 2015 by the late former President Benigno Aquino III. From pna report August 5, 2021: Palace to look into Onyok Velasco’s possible incentive

Prior to Onyok, Bowler Arianne Cerdeña in 1988 won the Gold at the Seoul Olympics. But Bowling at the time was considered as a demonstration sport.

(9) Arianne Cerdena was our first Olympic gold, for the demonstration sport of bowling in 1988. She got the hefty sum of P1 million pesos from Lucio Tan. Photo from:
https://www.facebook.com/News5Everywhere/?ref=page_internal

Taipan Lucio Tan, however, was the only one to give her a cash prize of P1 million pesos. Bigger than any prize she received from the government at the time. “Lucio Tan gave P1 million. But I paid the tax for that. It wasn’t tax-free,” she said. “The POC gave $1,000, the PSC P100,000 or P200,000 yata. I can’t remember.” From Manilatimes.net, August 5, 2021: Onyok did not get all promised reward

Forever Flyers

PAL – Philippine Airlines continues that established tradition of their Chairman and CEO Lucio Tan in supporting our Olympic athletes. Upon their medal finishes the official PAL facebook came out with important announcements for both Nesthy and Eumir. They declared them Forever Flyers like Hidilyn Diaz, albeit with fewer Mabuhay Miles assigned than the gold:

“Your silver win showed the heart of a strong Filipina to the world! Thank you for making the country proud. Philippine Airlines is gifting Nesthy Petecio 60,000 Mabuhay Miles per year, for life—adding her to our growing list of Forever Flyers.” From: Official PAL facebook.

(11) Olympic Bronze Medalists from left: (PHL) Eumir Marcial w (Russian Olympic Committee) Gleb Bakshi. Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

“Your blows blew us all away! Congratulations to Eumir Marcial for bagging a bronze medal and for being PAL’s newest Forever Flyer. Philippine Airlines is gifting Eumir Marcial 40,000 Mabuhay Miles per year, for life.” From: Official PAL facebook

The free flight miles will allow round-trip flights between Manila and Zamboanga / Cagayan De Oro with the option of being in business class (fewer flights), or more if they chooses to fly economy, in a year. Internationally, the airline perk will allow them to have a free round-trip business class flight from Manila to Taiwan or Japan per year. With the Olympians among PAL’s first Forever Flyer, the flag carrier said it will roll out the program soon for other travelers to “fly for life.”

Not to be outdone CEBU PACIFIC expanded the free flights to the whole Pinoy Olympic squad. Following the theme of supporting more athletes, whether bemedaled or not.

“Every athlete who represented the country in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will earn 25 free flights from Asia’s oldest low-cost airline to celebrate their efforts and heroic feats.

CEBU PACIFIC made the announcement on Friday and said that the Philippine delegation can also share the benefit with the rest of their teammates, families and “practically anyone in their support system.” From Interaksyon: Hidilyn Diaz and Filipino Olympians all treated to free flights

Needed Millions

Cash incentives in the millions are extremely critical for our athletes. Especially in the case of Eumir Marcial who is mulling over a full transition to the pros. He has had a verbal agreement with ABAP (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) Secretary General Ed Picson to still fight in the SEA Games and hopefully the Olympics. But Picson himself won’t put him up to it because of the financial benefits of turning pro, especially in the U.S. How can anyone deny him the chance to make a decent living in a sport that he has devoted himself to?

Olympic Bronze Medalists from left: (PHL) Eumir Marcial w (Russian Olympic Committee) Gleb Bakshi. Photo from One Sports official Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXDG9ue-emCN8Ad3h7lERqQ

Senator Pacquiao’s MP Promotions has already signed Eumir to a contract as early as July 2020. If it weren’t for his father’s dream of an Olympic medal Eumir may not have stayed an amateur for as long as he has.

Both Nesthy and Eumir are promised millions because of their medal finishes. Nesthy will get P17 million, Products from L’Oreal Group. Eumir will get P7 million. Andrew Tan will also give Nesthy a condo worth P10 million via Sun Trust Properties in Davao. It’s up to the corporations, individuals and government agencies to make sure they follow through on these promises.

Manny V Pangilinan and the MVP Sports foundation, has had a stellar track record on this so far. They helped support nearly all of the PHL Olympic squad, years before, in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. Now the whole nation is reaping the benefits.

Center: MVPSF Chairman and Trustee Manny V. Pangilinan, with Pinoy Olympians: Eumir Marcial , Nesty Petecio and Carlos Yulo (2019). Photo from MVP Sports Foundation website
https://mvpsf.ph/

August 6, 2021; “The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the MVP Sports Foundation of business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan will reward the non-medalists from the 19-man Team Philippines in the quadrennial games with cash incentives of P500,000 each. From Phil Star: Didal, Watanabe to receive P500 thousand each, Ando P750 thousand in cash incentives

[October 2014] from left: PLDT Chairman and SBP Pres. Manny V Pangilinan and MPTC Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Christopher Lizo; SMART ARANETA Coliseum. Photo by Jude Bautista https://judebsports.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/chris-lizo-living-the-pba-dream/

RWM

Companies are lining up to give Hidilyn their products. She was gifted with a condo worth P16 Million in Eastwood Mall by Andrew Tan of MEGAWORLD. She also received a KIA SUV at Resorts World Manila where she and her family are billeted. RWM was also the venue where she reunited with her family after not seeing each other for two years.

Nestea, the famous Iced tea drink, sent Nestle products to Nesthy Petecio’s home town of Santa Cruz, Davao Del Sur. In my mind they should take it a step further by making her an endorser. She is, after all, their tukayo – name sake in Filipino. By supporting her financially they will help her run for the next SEA Games, the next Olympics in Paris.

By rewarding ALL our athletes financially now, we are also giving them an incentive to prepare for the next international competition and or Olympics.

PANOORIN: Emosyonal na reunion ni Hidilyn at kaniyang mga magulang | TV Patrol

POST SCRIPT:

Some fans may be wondering why there are 2 bronze medalists in the Olympics.

Here’s the explanation from The Sporting News.com :

“Initially it was a scheduling issue (1950), with too short of a turnaround time between the semis and third-place fight. Having a bronze medal fight before the gold match (finals) also meant the two losing boxers didn’t have enough time to recover.

Since then, the rule has remained in place due to safety concerns around defeated fighters. The 1972 Olympics in Munich became the first games to award two bronze medals – a tradition that still exists today. From The Sporting News.com : Two bronze medals: Why are there no bronze medal boxing matches at the Olympics?

(20) Skateboarder Margielyn Didal charmed photogs with her personality during the Tokyo Olympics. Photo from: https://tv5.espn.com/

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[October 2014] VIP ROW from left: MPTC Pres. & CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, Tollways Mgt Corp. SVP for Toll Operations Bobby Bontia, PLDT Chairman and SBP Pres. Manny V Pangilinan, MNTC Pres & CEO Rod Franco and MPTC CFO/Treasurer Christopher Lizo. Foreground: Coach Boyet Fernandez (left) & Asst Coach Jojo Lastimosa (right). Catch PBA games live in SMART ARANETA Coliseum. Photo by Jude Bautista
https://judebsports.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/chris-lizo-living-the-pba-dream/

(23) Skateboarder Margielyn Didal charmed photogs with her personality during the Tokyo Olympics. Photo from: https://tv5.espn.com/

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Skateboarder Margielyn Didal charmed photogs with her personality during the Tokyo Olympics. Photo from: https://tv5.espn.com/

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