Smart has honored Filipino Olympians Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas – along with their coaches and staff – with a total of ₱21 million for their outstanding achievements at the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
This reward marks a significant recognition of the athletes’ contributions to the Philippines’ most successful Olympic campaign to date.
Carlos Yulo, the nation’s gymnastics sensation, secured two gold medals, earning him ₱10 million from the MVP Group.
Nesthy Petecio, the veteran boxer who added a bronze medal to her illustrious career, will take home ₱2 million.
Aira Villegas, who impressed with a bronze in her Olympic debut, will also receive ₱2 million.
The MVP Group has also pledged an additional 50-percent of these amounts to be distributed to the athletes’ coaches, further emphasizing the collective effort behind their success.
“The glory and pride that Carlos, Nesthy, and Aira brought to our country with the medals they’ve won in Paris through their training, grit, and effort are priceless indeed,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman Emeritus of the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF).
“We are very proud of them, and we hope to see them compete once again in Los Angeles in 2028 ― which we will continue to support fully.”
(C) Pam Puri/Smart Sports
The MVP Sports Foundation has been a consistent pillar of support for Filipino athletes, with 16 of the 22 Olympians in Paris 2024 receiving backing through their respective national sports associations (NSAs).
This commitment has been instrumental in propelling the nation’s athletes to new heights on the global stage.
MVPSF President Al S. Panlilio reaffirmed the foundation’s dedication to the athletes’ Olympic journey.
“The MVPSF will continue to support Filipino athletes in their quest for gold in the Olympics. We’ve seen it happen with Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo 2020, and now, we’ve seen it happen again with Yulo in Paris 2024,” Panlilio stated.
“We hope that this will inspire more Filipino athletes to strive for their Olympic dreams in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, as well as encourage our partners in both the private and public sectors to continue supporting our young heroes.”
