Michael Christian Martinez of the Philippines competes in the men’s short program figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
MANILA, Philippines – After inspiring a nation and earning the world’s attention, Michael Christian Martinez is set to receive a $10,000 bonus from business tycoon and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan through his MVP Sports Foundation.
Martinez, the lone Philippine competitor in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and first Olympic figure skater from Southeast Asia, put on a gutsy performance to finish 19th in the medal round of the men’s figure skating competition.
“Just emailed Mrs. Martinez that MVPSF (Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation) at request of @iamMVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) has authorized a bonus of US$10k in recognition of Michael’s historic performance,” Chot Reyes (@coachot) posted on his Twitter account early Saturday morning.
Reyes has been working closely with Pangilinan in sports development in the Philippines. He is currently coaching Gilas Pilipinas, which will compete in the Fiba World Cup in Spain in August.
“We’re hoping he makes it and some companies support him,” his mother, Maria Teresa Martinez, said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Otherwise he will just have to stop. We cannot afford it anymore. It’s just so expensive and we can’t do another four years.”
The 17-year-old Martinez’s family home had been mortgaged to financially support his skating and after proudly representing a tropical country, where snow is only a child’s dream, help is on its way.
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