Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Asian Games gold medallist Annie Ramirez is getting ready to start her own business with the incentives that she has received from both the government and the private sector.
The 33-year-old Ramirez, who won her first Asian Games` gold medal after ruling the women’s -57kg. in women’s jiujitsu, has received more than enough to start her own coffee shop.
“I’m busy with other things right. I’m focused on putting up a coffee shop,” said the Ramirez, after she got a P1-million check from the Philippine Olympic Committee during Tuesday’s General Assembly at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.
So far, the construction of Ramirez’s coffee shop is already under way and will be finished sometime next year in the San Marcelino are in Manila.
By January, Ramirez said she will begin preparations for other meets, which include the Asian championships, the world meet and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
Eighteen medallists in the recent Asiad received bonuses reaching P10.6 million from the POC, with the its president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino handing out checks meant for 40 athletes.
Earlier, athletes who brought home medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games got around receive around P41.9 million worth of incentives from the government.
Aside from Ramirez, Meggie Ochoa also reigned supreme in jiu-jitsu, and got big incentives with the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena for winning the gold medal.
“Sinadya naming na ibigay sa December para may pamasko ang mga bata,” said Tolentino when he handed out cash checks meant for four golds, two silvers and 12 bronzes what were won in the recent Asiad.
Ochoa and Obiena also got P1 million from the POC, while members of Gilas, who were not around, were allocated a total of P2.4 million for the 12 players.
Silver medallists Arnel Mandal of wushu and boxer Eumir Marcial got P500,000 apiece.
Twelve bronze medallists, led by tennis star Alex Eala, got P300,000.
Among the bronze medalists were Patrick King Perez of taekwondo, Jones Inso, Gideon Padua and Clemente Tabugara Jr. of wushu, Eala and Francis Alcantara of tennis was also feted Patrick Coo of cycling, Elreen Ando of weightlifting, Kaila Napolis of jiu-jitsu, Sakura Alforte of karate, and the men’s sepak takraw team. — Peter Atencio
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
