Boxing Olympic medalists receive Tagaytay property

MANILA, Philippines — Tokyo Olympics medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial are not discounting the possibility of taking another shot at an Olympic gold in the 2024 Paris Games.

“Pinapangarap ko talaga gold medal sa Olympics (I’m really dreaming of an Olympic gold medal),” said Paalam during yesterday’s turnover of the house and lot which the three victorious boxers received in Tagaytay City.

The 125-sqm property, courtesy of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino and his brother Sen. Francis Tolentino, was part of the boxers’ incentives for winning two silvers and a bronze in the Olympics.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who delivered the country’s first Olympic gold, received a 220-sqm property in Tagaytay, also courtesy of the Tolentinos.

Among the three, Paalam appears to have the best shot at the gold in Paris as he is the youngest at 23 years old.

Marcial is 26 while Petecio 29.

Marcial, who juggles being a pro and amateur boxer apart from being a member of the Philippine Air Force, said he still has a lot left in the tank.

“Kaya pa (I can still do it),” said Marcial.

Tolentino is trying to encourage the three, as well as Diaz, to go for it in Paris.

“I think they can still qualify to the Olympics and they’re still young enough to shoot for the Olympic gold,” said the congressman from Tagaytay.

Tolentino said he dreams of giving each Filipino athlete a home if they win Olympic medals.

“I will call it the Olympic Village,” said Tolentino.