Tokyo Olympian Magno shares plight, says PH athletes not receiving allowances

FILE – Irish Magno. INQUIRER PHOTO/SHERWIN
VARDELEON

MANILA, Philippines — Tokyo Olympics-bound Irish Magno could not help but feel worried amid her preparation for the upcoming Olympics after their allowances got delayed by two months.

In a Facebook post, Magno wrote that she’s finding it hard to train for the Olympics as she thinks about the plight of her family in her home province of Iloilo.

“Ang hirap mag-focus sa paghahanda mo sa Olympics kung alam mong yung pamilya mo sa probinsya halos walang makain,” posted Magno. “Masakit lang isipin lalo na’t ikaw lang inaasahan nila. Two months na walang allowance. Yan lang po inaasahan naming mga atleta. Sana magkaroon na.”

(It’s difficult to focus on our Olympic training if you know that your family in the province has barely enough to eat. It’s hard because you’re the only one they rely on. Two months on and we still don’t have our allowance. That’s the only thing us athletes rely on. I hope we get it.)

Magno and the rest of the Philippine boxing contingent to the Olympics are training in Thailand after they left the bubble at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

Though Magno and middleweight Eumir Marcial are already qualified for the Olympics, other boxers like Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam are also training in hopes of earning Olympic slots.

Magno has since deleted her post on Wednesday and thanked the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) for their support and helping the team amid the delay of allowances.

“Good day po! Sorry po, I decided to erase my latest post because of personal reasons. Basta maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat! Sa suporta niyo sakin, at sa mga taong naiintindihan po ako, at sa patuloy na tumutulong saming mga atleta,” wrote Magno. “Good vibes lang po tayo at magiging ok rin po lahat. Patuloy ang laban para sa pamilya at para sa bayan. God bless!”

(Good day, I’m sorry but I decided to erase my latest post because of personal reasons. Anyway, I’d like to thank all of you for the support you’ve given to me, to the people who understand what I’m going through, and of course, everyone who’s helping the athletes. Let’s all have good vibes and everything will be okay. The fight continues, for the family and for the country. God bless!)