By Brian Jules Campued
The Philippines is ready to witness greatness personified as we welcome our outstanding Filipino Olympians in a heroes’ welcome and homecoming parade, which was moved on Wednesday.
In a Palace press briefing, Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Reichel Quiñones and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Television Dale De Vera said the motorcade was moved due to the late arrival of the athletes on Tuesday.
According to Quiñones, double gold medalist and gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, and the rest of the 2024 Paris Olympics Philippine team will arrive on Tuesday evening at the Villamor Airbase and will be welcomed by their families.
They will then proceed to the Malacañan Palace for an awarding ceremony and dinner reception led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos, where the President is set to confer a Presidential Medal of Merit to Yulo and Presidential Citations to Villegas, Petecio, and other Filipino Olympians.
The Office of the President (OP) will also give incentives to the athletes who won medals, according to De Vera.
“The peg for it (welcoming rites), from the organizing committee is that we want to be heroes’ welcome. And it’s very much focused on them and what they’ve done to honor the nation,” Quiñones said.
In an updated advisory issued by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the 7.7-kilometer motorcade will start from Aliw Theater at 3:30 p.m. and will turn left to Roxas Boulevard, right to P. Burgos Avenue, straight ahead to Finance Road, right to Taft Avenue, right to Pres. Quirino Avenue, left to Adriattico Street, right to Mendiola Street, and left to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The MMDA will implement a stop-and-go scheme along the path of the parade. Motorists and commuters are also advised to take alternative routes to avoid the areas where traffic will be heavy.
The Philippines has already surpassed its performance in the Tokyo Olympics last 2021 after bagging two golds and two bronze medals in the 2024 quadrennial sports. Aside from Yulo’s stellar gold medal haul, Filipina boxers Villegas and Petecio clinched bronze medals.
“From 22 incredible athletes representing the Philippines, each one has shown that Filipinos CAN achieve greatness!” the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said in a social media post.
The other Filipino Olympians were pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena; golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina; boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan; rower Joanie Delgaco; weightlifters Elreen Ando, Vanessa Sarno, and John Ceniza; swimmers Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch; gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo; fencer Samantha Catantan; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; and hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Laura Hoffman.
Obiena and Pagdanganan nearly made the podium with their respective fourth-place finishes.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close early Monday morning (Philippine time), where the torch was passed from the “City of Lights” to the next Summer Games host, Los Angeles or the “City of Angels”.
Yulo and Villegas served as the country’s flag-bearers.
“Each moment in Paris has been a testament to the unwavering Filipino spirit. With hearts full of pride and gratitude, we look forward to the future, carrying the lessons and memories we’ve made,” the POC said in a separate post.
“Merci beaucoup! From the City of Lights to the City of Angels, Mabuhay, Pilipinas, Mabuhay ang Atletang Pilipino—onward to LA 2028!” it added.
However, the Philippines’ campaign continues as six Filipino para athletes—Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom (swimming), Jerrold Mangliwan (wheelchair racing), Cendy Asusano (javelin throw), Allain Ganapin (taekwondo), and Agustina Bantiloc (archery)—will see action at the 2024 Summer Paralympics on Aug. 28 to Sep. 8. – av