BUKIDNON native Carlo Paalam, among the country's boxing heroes in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, was not remiss in acknowledging his benefactors back home.
Foremost on the list are Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and his personal coach/trainer Elmer Pamisa.
"Wala ko karon dire kon wala sila. Si Mayor Moreno gyod ug coach Pamisa ang nagtabang sukad atong bata pa ko sa pagpamoksing," said Pamisa on Tuesday's press conference at the Cagayan de Oro City Hall, right after he arrived from Manila.
And life now is wholly different for the Paalams since his young days as a garbage picker up at the city's former landfill area that also became temporary dumping ground for dead bodies during typhoon Sendong's wrath. "Makakaon na 'mi og lami unya makatulog na sab sa hotel," said the 24-year-old Olympics boxing silver medallist Paalam.
The virtual press conference initiated by the city government served as a simple hero's welcome for Paalam and his coach Elmer Pamisa weeks after their historic exploit in Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno had presented Paalam through city vice mayor Joaquin 'Kikang' Uy a check reward worth P2-million for his exemplary feat and for bringing honor to the City of Golden Friendship as second home of the Talakag-born Paalam.
The city government of Cagayan de Oro gave Paalam a Distinguished Plaque of Merit and P2 Million cash incentive. This, after the 19th City Council passed a resolution during its 100th regular session on August 9, 2021, in recognizing Paalam's indomitable fighting spirit and other fields of struggle for excellence.
The Cebu Landmasters, the leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), is also gifting Paalam a 3.6M house and lot (townhouse) in its subdivision project Velmiro Uptown CDO, located in the prime Upper Canitoan Cagayan de Oro area for his extraordinary accomplishment and as inspiration to millions of Filipino around the world.
Paalam, who fell short of winning the Philippines' first Olympic gold in boxing following a split decision loss to Galal Yafai of Great Britain, has been promised a total of P24.5 million in cash.
The pride of Cagayan de Oro will also receive other rewards just like his fellow Filipino medalists in Tokyo: weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (gold) and boxers Nesthy Petecio (silver) and Eumir Marcial (bronze).
Here is the list of incentives:
- Cash incentives P5 million - Under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, Olympic silver medalists are entitled to P5 million.
- Sports patron Manny Pangilinan committed P5 million for a silver medal in Tokyo through the MVP Sports Foundation.
P5 million - San Miguel Corporation boss Ramon Ang pledged P5 million for Filipino silver medalists.
P3 million - Phoenix Petroleum vowed to give Paalam P3 million for his feat in Tokyo.
P2 million - President Rodrigo Duterte will grant Paalam P2 million from his office.
P2 million - House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero added P2 million to the cash windfall of silver medalists P2 million.
The Philippine Olympic Committee is giving a P2 million bonus for Filipino silver medalists.
P500,000 - Senators donated P100,000 each for the chamber's cash prizes for the four Filipino medalists in Tokyo and gave Paalam P500,000 for winning silver.
Other rewards Free 60,000 miles per year for life from Philippine Airlines Unlimited free flights for five years from AirAsia.
Twenty-five free flights from Cebu Pacific Air.
House and lot in Cagayan de Oro from VisMin Cebu Landmasters Inc.
House and lot in Tagaytay from POC president Bambol Tolentino.
Free big bike from Motortrade Free services, including change oil and haircut.
