SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOWANCE. The Muay Thai Association of the Philippines has released on Tuesday a PHP5,000 supplemental allowance for each of its athletes and coaches, said muay Thai waikru-taksa gold medalist Jearome Calica (right) seen here with the national team of the event under coach Billy Alumno (left). Also in photo is Rusha Bayacsan (2nd right). (Photo from the Facebook page of Jearome Calica)
BAGUIO CITY – National athletes from the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines (MAP) started receiving on Tuesday PHP5,000 financial assistance from their mother sports association.
Jearome Calica, a gold medalist from the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in November last year, received the assistance on April 21.
“Maraming salamat po (Thank you)!” posted Calica on MAP president Lucas Managuelod’s social media account after receiving his PHP5,000 financial assistance from the Philippine National Bank which was transmitted to his LandBank of the Philippines through InstaPay.
LandBank is the official bank for national athletes.
“MAP is the best. But I haven’t checked if there is already,” said 18-year-old Islay Erika Bomogao although she was told that it will be sent through her ATM account.
“I don’t know what to do with it yet, but I already told my mom about it and she jokingly said to buy groceries. So maybe that,” she told the Philippine News Agency.
Aside from the two, muay Thai athletes from the Cordilleras include Jennilyn Olsim and Rusha Bayacsan, who won silver medals in the last SEAG in the combat side and waikru-taksa and simulated fight.
Ariel Lampacan on the combat side of the sport won a gold medal in the last SEAG.
The four athletes all won medals in the last SEAG with Calica taking home a gold, while the three female athletes brought home silver medals.
Bomogao said that there are eight other Cordilleran members of the national team-- Alexis Mayag-as, Shaquille Soriano, Bryan Aban, Ezra Saclag, Aldrich Toralba, Liane Benito, Hansel Bilog and Team Lakay founder Mark Sangiao’s son Jhanlo.
Former University of Baguio boxing team member Billy Alumno is one of the national coaches of MAP and is entitled to receive a PHP5,000 stipend.
In his letter to all athletes dated April 22, Managuelod said that the money was released as a supplemental allowance for all athletes and coaches.
"We know that the past few weeks have been difficult and challenging for our fellow Filipinos. The Covid-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic has brought uncertainties for the future that affect the overall well-being of everyone," he said.
He added that in giving the supplemental allowance, MAP has “recognize(d) the hardships and sacrifice that our athletes and coaches continue to make in ensuring that they remain dedicated to their responsibilities and expectations of their governing bodies.”
He said that it has prompted the MAP to grant the supplemental budget “to augment their monthly allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission.”
Bomogao has recently donated her month’s allowance for the relief efforts initiated by her father, councilor Benny Bomogao.
She is also expected to donate her incoming allowance for the same project as she is trying to inspire her fellow athletes to donate their allowance for the worthy project. (PNA)
