FOR BARCELONA FEAT. 1992 Barcelona boxing bronze medalist Roel Velasco receives a symbolic key of his own Chooks-to-Go branch from company president Ronald Mascariñas on Thursday (Aug. 19, 2021). Mascariñas said this is his reward to Velasco who stayed with the national team as coach after his retirement as a boxer. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas honored 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Roel Velasco the same way he did to his younger brother Onyok.
On Thursday, Mascariñas gave the older Velasco his own Chooks-to-Go store.
Mascariñas said this is his reward to Velasco, who remained with the national team after his retirement as a boxer by joining the coaching staff.
Under his tutelage, the Philippines netted three medals in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, the most the national team got in a single Olympic for boxing.
"What astonished me about Roel is that he is a loyal soldier to the country. Though it's been 29 years since his feat in Barcelona, his legacy continues to live on in our boxers today," Mascariñas said.
He added, "For years, he and his brother Boy have been identifying, grooming, and developing our boxers. And with their help, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam were able to win silver in Tokyo while Eumir Marcial won bronze in a stacked middleweight division. Roel truly is a Manok ng Bayan (top bet of the country)."
Although he rued that he missed out on the then elusive Olympic gold, Velasco remains glad that he was given this kind of honor.
"Minsan manghihinayang ka. Kung nanalo ako, ako sana ‘yung nakatayo sa number one na place. Pero tuwang-tuwa pa rin ako sa natanggap ko (Sometimes, you have to regret it. If I won, I would have been the one in the first place. But I am still happy for what I received)," said the now 49-year-old native of Bago, Negros Occidental, referring to his semifinal loss to Rogelio Marcelo of Cuba.
Velasco's road to the gold came to a stop at Marcelo's expense after the latter opened a cut on him that eventually led to the former's loss.
Marcelo would go on to win the gold.
Although the 2021 team also came up short of gold, Velasco said he is proud of the current crop consisting of silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and quarterfinalist Irish Magno.
"Hanga ako sa mga performance ng mga boxer natin. Nakita ko ‘yung sakripisyo nila para sa pamilya nila (I'm impressed with our boxers' performance. I saw their sacrifices for their family)," Velasco continued.
He then thanked Mascariñas, saying, "Sir Ronald, maraming salamat sa 'yo. Kahit na matagal na panahon na ang nakalilipas, ikaw lang ang nakaalala sa atletang Pilipino na nagbigay ng parangal sa Olympiada at sa mga lahat ng mamamayan na nangangailangan ng tulong mo, nandiyan ka para tumulong at sumuporta. Talagang hindi mo pinababayaan ang mga kababayan natin (thank you. Even if it has been a long time already, you are the only one who remembers the Filipino athletes who gave honor in the Olympiads, and to all the citizens who need your help, you are there to help and support. You really haven't turned your back on our fellow citizens). (PNA)
