Olympic boxers to be neighbors in Tagaytay | ABS-CBN

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Olympic boxers to be neighbors in Tagaytay

Olympic boxers to be neighbors in Tagaytay

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

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Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial attend the groundbreaking ceremony for their future homes in Tagaytay. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

The three Filipino boxers who brought home medals from the Tokyo Olympics saw for the first time on Wednesday where their houses will be built, as a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Tagaytay.

The three houses, courtesy of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, will be located in Brgy. San Jose in Tagaytay City, with construction expected to be finished by November.

Present during the groundbreaking were silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, as well as bronze medalist Eumir Marcial. Also there was Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, who also received a house and lot in the same area.

The four Olympians will eventually be neighbors in what will turn out to be the "Olympic Lane."

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"'Yung kalye nila, Olympic Lane na. Papangalan ng lungsod ng Tagaytay. So siguro later on, magiging tourist attraction na rin 'yun, doon nakatira 'yung mga Olympic medalist natin, at magsisilbing inspirasyon sa mga kabataan, mga pumapasyal dito na pumasok sa sports," said Sen. Francis Tolentino, the former mayor of Tagaytay who was also present in the Thanksgiving Mass and groundbreaking ceremony.

The three boxers all expressed their gratitude for this latest blessing after their triumph in the Tokyo Olympics.

"Tulad nga noong sa sinabi ko sa post na, kumbaga, hindi ko in-expect lahat ng mga blessing na 'to, 'yung nangyari. Talagang unexpected talaga 'yung mga blessings," said Marcial, who brought home a bronze after competing in the loaded men's middleweight division.

"So gusto kong pasalamatan 'yung mga tao, mga Pilipinong nagsuporta. At higit sa lahat, 'yung Panginoon dahil may tao siyang ginamit para tulungan at biyayaan po kami. So thank you po," he added.

Petecio, who will give the house to one of her siblings, was emotional as she recalled how she and her family didn't have a permanent home while she was growing up.

"Dati, wala po kaming permanenteng bahay, nakikitira lang sa trapal ang ilalim, sa puno ng rambutan lang po," said Petecio. "Ngayon po, masasabi kong, ah grabe, may sariling bahay na po ako, kami ng pamilya ko, lalo na ng mga kapatid ko."

"Sa kapatid ko po ito, actually. Lahat po ng natanggap ko, wala po sa akin. Sila po talaga inuna ko, mga kapatid ko. Kasi sabi ko, ayaw kong maranasan nila 'yung naranasan ko noon, na paghihirap po. So sa mga kapatid ko't pamangkin ko, sa kanila po 'to. Sa kanila po lahat 'to," she added.

Aside from the house and lot, the Olympians are also set to receive vehicles from another sponsor.

Paalam, the youngest member of the boxing team, said he will use the vehicle to help his family.

"Para din 'to sa kanila po at saka makaahon na din sa hirap po. Makatulong konti po. At saka para din sa kanila talaga 'to," he said.

The Olympians also received millions in cash incentives from the government and the private sector after their historic campaign in the Tokyo Olympics, where the Philippines had its best ever showing.

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Triumphant PH men's curling team shares struggles, hopes to inspire Filipinos

Triumphant PH men's curling team shares struggles, hopes to inspire Filipinos

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

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The Philippine men's curling team with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in Tagaytay City on February 16, 2025. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN NewsThe Philippine men's curling team with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in Tagaytay City on February 16, 2025. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The countryā€™s men's curling team, Curling Pilipinas, has brought home a historic triumph after securing the country's first-ever gold medal at the Asian Winter Games, held in Harbin, China.   

The team made history on Friday, February 14, after defeating South Korea in the finals. 

In the earlier matches, the team bested powerhouse teams from China and Japan.   

Curling Pilipinas is composed of Benjo Delarmente, who also serves as the teamā€™s president, Allan Frei, brothers Enrico and Marc Pfister, and Christian Patrick Hallerā€” all with Filipino blood. 

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In a media briefing in Tagaytay, the team shared their struggles in preparing for the competition, stressing they had to juggle training with their respective jobs.   

ā€œThis movement grew as we are sitting here as first South East Asian country with the gold medal in Asia Winter Games which is absolutely incredible. For us, as a team, our job is to create success because success is building bridges for the next generation. We wonā€™t stop here,ā€ said Frei. 

ā€œI was so excited and we have to know that old and young teams are more on the ice than us but we have more experience,ā€ Enrico Pfister shared. 

The team also recalled the intense final match, saying that they did not expect to end up with a gold. 

ā€œWe know itā€™s gonna be a hard game for usā€¦ somehow we tied it up. It was really emotional for us. It took a lot of pressure on us, and then the final. We donā€™t realize we do that. Itā€™s just amazing,ā€ said Marc Pfister. 

ā€œThis is so much more here in Harbin. So many more people. And also the emotions I experienced is second to none. It was really great to play with these guys. The experience has so much motivations. I put so much effort in this sport,ā€ Haller said, describing all the sacrifices the team made. 

Meanwhile, the team hopes their victory will give awareness of curling in the Philippines, as it is known and traditionally played in winter nations like the United States, Japan, and South Korea. 

Since the country does not yet have proper facilities for the sport, Curling Pilipinas will first promote ā€œfloor curlingā€ā€” a modified game of the sport which suits tropical countries like the Philippines. 

ā€œIt sorts of replicate curling. There are like replica stones instead of actual stone. Merong gulong, meron court na parang linoleum siya na you can set up in any gym. And you can actually introduce the sport,ā€ Delarmente explained. 

The team will also collaborate with various universities in the country to introduce curling to students and young athletes. 

ā€œWe will be organizing learn to curl trips or event. We are in talks with Korean curling federationā€¦ they have the facilities where we will rent ice. Curling Pilipinas will pay for the ice. We will pay for the interpreter and if needed we will lay for the instructors,ā€ Delarmente added.   

Moreover, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) committed their support to the team, stressing that they will bring this agenda to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

ā€œWith this courtesy call, definitely we will request first the journey to Olympics that curling should be included in all the expenses,ā€ said POC President Abraham Tolentino.   

Following a short break for their well-deserved rest, Curling Pilipinas will already start preparing for the Olympic pre-qualifiers in October this year.

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