President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his message for Rio-bound Filipino athletes. MARLON RAMOS
Do your best for the honor of the Philippines.
This was Malacañang’s message to the 13-man Philippine contingent to the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
“The President challenges the Philippine contingent to give 100 percent for the honor of the country and wishes them luck,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement on Saturday.
READ: ‘Just try your best,’ Duterte tells Rio-bound athletes
The Philippine team, led by three-time Olympian Hidilyn Diaz and Marestella Torres met with Duterte on July 18 at Malacañang in a send-off ceremony.
And while like his predecessors, he did not mention the state of Philippine sports in his first State of the Nation Address, the President has increased the allowance of the athletes to $3,000 from $1,000 and that of the officials to $5,000 from $3,000.
READ: Duterte sends off Olympic team, increases allowance of athletes
The Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is set from August 5-20.
The Philippine delegation will try to end a 20-year futile campaign in the Olympics. The last time the country won an Olympic medal was in 1996 when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr. placed second in his boxing event. IDL