President Marcos to Honor Filipino Olympians with Cash Incentives and Awards

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced plans to provide cash incentives and prestigious awards to the 22 Filipino athletes who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This gesture comes as a celebration of the athletes’ outstanding performances, which marked the Philippines’ most successful Olympic showing in a century.

According to Philippines News Agency, the athletes are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Tuesday afternoon and will have a private reception at Maharlika Airbase, attended only by family members, to ensure a personal and intimate welcome. Following their arrival, they will be escorted to Malacañang Palace for a ceremonial gathering hosted by President Marcos and the First Lady.

During the event at the palace, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Dale De Vera revealed that President Marcos will disclose the specific cash awards for the Olympians. These incentives will be in addition to the existing rewards stipulated by law and contributions from the private sector aimed at honoring Filipino Olympic medalists. Moreover, all athletes will receive presidential citations for their efforts, with a special Presidential Medal of Merit being awarded to Carlos Yulo, a two-time gold medalist at the Paris games.

The celebration will continue on Wednesday with a parade stretching from Aliw Theater in Pasay City to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, designed to offer a heroes’ welcome to the athletes. Quiñones emphasized that the planned events would be modest yet deeply meaningful, focusing on the athletes’ contributions to national pride and their historic achievements at the Olympics.