More firms pledge gifts for Nesthy Petecio after Olympic silver win

Businesses on Tuesday pledged gifts to Nesthy Petecio, after making history as the first Filipina boxer to score a medal at the Olympic Games.

In an advisory, flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Tuesday said it would gift Petecio a lifetime of air travel incentives equivalent to 60,000 Mabuhay Miles per year for life.

“Your silver win showed the heart of a strong Filipina to the world! Thank you for making the country proud,” PAL said.

In a separate message to reporters, PAL Spokesperson Maria Cielo Villaluna, the 60,000 miles is equivalent to either four roundtrip domestic flights; two roundtrip regional flights; or one roundtrip flight to Australia, the Middle East, or Honolulu.

Suntrust Properties Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of property magnate Andrew Tan’s Megaworld Corp., also pledged a P10-million condominium unit.

“We are very proud of this huge accomplishment of Nesthy Petecio. Her silver medal in the Olympics is a historic one because this women’s featherweight division of boxing debuts only in this Tokyo Olympics, and she is the first silver medalist in the category,” Suntrust Properties President Harrison Paltongan said.

Housing development firm Ovialand also earlier said it would give Petecio a P2.5-million house and lot at Caliya, Candelaria.

Under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act signed by the late former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, Olympic silver medalists are entitled to P5 million.

The Philippines last scored an Olympic medal for boxing in the 1996 Atlanta Games, when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco also bagged a silver. -MDM, GMA News