Officials of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, led by chairman Michel Lhuillier (2nd from leftt, back row), pose with some of the province’s medalists in last December’s Batang Pinoy National Finals during a recognition program yesterday at the Cebu Capitol. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Athletes and coaches who helped Cebu Province complete a strong showing in last December’s Batang Pinoy National Finals in Tagum City, Davao del Norte got more than what they expected when they were recognized yesterday at the Dignitaries Hall of the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
As promised by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC), a gold medalist received P5,000, while silver and bronze finishers received P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.
The delegates, however, got a big surprise when the chairman of CPSC, business tycoon Michel Lhuillier, announced that he was doubling the amount that a medal finisher got as cash incentive.
Though the province dropped one rank lower in this year’s Batang Pinoy, CPSC officials were pleased with its seventh-place finish after the delegation got more medals compared to last year.
The province ranked sixth last year by bagging a total of 14 medals.
Cebu Province athletes wound up seventh this year, but increased their medal haul with 18 golds, 18 silvers and 17 bronzes.
“I am very amazed with you, athletes. Nurture that talent and improve it and make Cebu proud,” said Lhuillier.
Lhuillier said the performance showed that the province is no pushover when it comes to national tournaments like the Batang Pinoy.
“Never underestimate a probinsyano. You think you can underestimate someone for coming from a province? Of course you can’t because we are better than the people living in the city and we proved it many times.”
Apart from Lhuillier, also present in the activity were Cebu Provincial Sports Commission vice chairman Miguel Magpale and lawyer Ramil Abing, who is the executive director along with CPSC officials.
Lhuillier expressed confidence that with CPSC’s intensified grassroots development program, the province will continue to improve.
“We have so much talent and I am sure we can do better in the next events but we have a lot of sacrifices to do, bigger budget and I’m sure there will be more athletes who can perform better,” added Lhuillier.
Abing, meanwhile, said that the province will participate in all major regional and national meets this year as part of CPSC’s thrust in developing Cebu Province into a fully competitive region in sports.
He said CPSC has approved the line-up of events that the province will participate in this year that include the CVIRAA scheduled on February in Naga City, south Cebu.
“We have a lot of activities for this year,” said Abing. “This will involve regional and national events and we are also organizing a high stake volleyball and basketball tournament in the province,” said Abing
The province will be manned by 800 athletes and coaches in the CVIRAA next month, surpassing the 600-man team last year where it finished fourth overall.