MANSUETO “Onyok” Velasco may soon receive a P500,000 windfall as the Office of the President is reportedly processing a provision of financial assistance for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics boxing silver medalist.
The diminutive “Onyok,” as he is popularly called, was only 22 when he won a silver medal in the light flyweight division during the Atlanta Olympiad, earning for the country its second silver medal in the quadrennial games.
Now at 47 years old, Onyok may soon receive his reward twenty-five years after, at least a piece of what was promised to him then.
Senator Bong Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, made the financial reward possible after raising the long-time concern of Velasco to President Duterte of not having received the pledges and support promised him both by the government and private sector following his success in the Olympics.
Velasco, who has turned to showbiz portraying comedic roles, aired his concern in a recent interview at the height of the Philippine boxing team’s campaign in the Tokyo Olympics, where Filipino fighters Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam bagged a silver medal and Eumir Marcial brought home the bronze.
By his estimate, Velasco said he has yet to receive at least P2.5 million in pledges from certain members of Congress back then, along with the scholarship grants reserved for his children.
One businessman also committed a P10,000 lifetime monthly allowance to the native of Bago City, which was discontinued just after a year.
Go hopes the financial reward being extended by the government would somehow help him and his family.
“Sa panahon ni Pangulong Duterte, binibigyan natin ng importansya, suporta, at insentibo ang mga atleta natin lalo na yung mga nagtatagumpay sa Olympics ngayon. Bigyan rin dapat natin ng karampatang pagkilala ang mga atleta natin katulad ni Onyok na nangangailangan ng tulong natin ngayon,” said Go in a statement.
“Nakapagdala ng honor si Onyok sa ating bansa, Napaglipasan lang ng panahon ang ibang mga ipinangako sa kanya. Kaya ako nakikiusap sa gobyerno na mabigyan siya ng konting tulong bilang pagkilala rin sa kanyang accomplishment noon.”
Earlier, President Duterte announced additional cash incentives to Petecio, Paalam, and Marcial. The two silver medal winners were given P2 million each, while the bronze accounted for P1 million.
The Chief Execuive, likewise, gave the country’s first ever gold medal winner in the Olympics, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, P3 million and a house and lot.
The 15 Filipino athletes who didn’t get to clinch a medal in the Tokyo Games, meanwhile, were given P200,000 each by the President.