Filipino athletes had been acknowledged within the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Sunday.
Marcos mentioned these athletes have turn out to be fashions of the youth as he vowed to proceed investing in sports activities packages.
“Dahil sa mga ito, ang ating kabataan ay maagang namumulat sa isports, humuhusay, at tumataas ang kumpiyansa. Sumusunod sila sa yapak ng ating mga kampeon at world-class na athlete: tulad ni Senator Manny Pacquiao, ni Hidilyn Diaz, ni Caloy Yulo, Aira Villegas, Nesthy Petecio, EJ Obiena, Alex Eala; ang paralympians natin na sina Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom, at Ernie Gawilan,” he mentioned.
Marcos additionally jokingly added Philippine Nationwide Police chief Common Nicolas Torre III within the record of champions after being declared as winner of the match in opposition to Davao Metropolis appearing mayor Sebastian Duterte who didn’t present up within the charity boxing occasion.
He then acknowledged the Philippine Males’s Curling Staff, the nation’s first Asian Winter Video games gold medalist.
“Akalain mo nga naman: walang winter dito sa Pilipinas, napatunayan pa rin natin na kaya nating maging kampeon sa Winter Video games,” he mentioned.
Marcos invited the individuals to get to know the athletes for what they’ve achieved for the nation.
“Kilalanin natin ang mga atleta na umani ng karangalan para sa Pilipinas. Hindi lamang sila nakapaghatid ng kasiyahan sa buong sambayanan. Pinalakas pa nila ang ating pagmamahal sa bayan, at lalo pang pinatingkad ang dangal ng bawat Pilipino,” Marcos mentioned.
Get to know the athletes right here:
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao is boxing’s solely eight-division champion. Pacquiao fought against Mario Barrios last July 20 which led to a majority draw.
Hidilyn Diaz
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, which she achieved within the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She additionally bagged a silver medal within the 2016 version of the Summer season Video games.
Carlos Yulo
Gymnast Carlos Yulo turned the nation’s second Olympic gold medalist as he received two in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Even earlier than the Olympics, nevertheless, Yulo had additionally turn out to be a world champion and simply final June, turned a gold medalist once more within the Asian championships.
Aira Villegas
Boxer Aira Villegas joined the nation’s record of Olympic medalists as she copped a bronze medal within the Paris Summer season Video games.
Nesthy Petecio
Boxer Nesthy Petecio was additionally a part of the nation’s historic four-medal haul within the Tokyo Olympics because the boxer bagged silver in the 2021 edition of the Video games. In Paris, Petecio managed to cop a bronze, making her a two-time Olympic medalist.
EJ Obiena
Obiena is Asia’s greatest pole vaulter as he at the moment ranks fifth on the planet rankings, and even reached no. 2 in 2023. He’s a two-time medalist within the World Championships, an Asian Video games gold medalist in 2023, and an Asian champion for 3 straight years, with the newest one again in Could.
Alex Eala
Tennis ace Alex Eala has been on the rise in world tennis currently as she reached a career-high no. 56 on the planet rankings final June. Again in March, Eala had a dream run in the Miami Open the place she defeated higher-ranked gamers and Grand Slam champions corresponding to Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys. Eala additionally turned the first Filipino to play in a WTA tour finals final June.
Jerrold Mangliwan
Wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan is a gold medalist within the 2022 Asian Para Video games and a six-time gold medalist in a number of editions of the ASEAN Para Video games. He was a part of the Philippines’ delegation to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Cendy Asusano
Para athlete Cendy Asusano has already received seven gold medals in three editions of the ASEAN Para Video games. She was a part of the Philippines’ delegation to the 2024 Paris Paralympics, competing in the javelin throw.
Angel Otom
Para swimmer Angel Otom additionally has seven gold medals in two editions of the ASEAN Para Video games. She was a part of the Philippines’ delegation to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Ernie Gawilan
Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan is a four-time Asian Para Video games gold medalist and has 9 golds in several editions of the ASEAN Para Video games. He was a part of the Philippines’ delegation to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Philippine Males’s Curling Staff
Again in February, the Philippine Men’s Curling Team made historical past because it received the country’s first Asian Winter Games gold medal within the 2025 version of the occasion in Harbin, China.
Marcos additionally vowed to type a new national sports program and opened the Philippine Sports activities Fee’s ovals for jogging in an effort to advertise a more healthy life-style.
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Built-in Information