Taekwondo targets 1st Pinoy gold

The 25th SEA Games fire off Wednesday with the Philippines favored to win its first gold medal in taekwondo.

After falling to 6th place in overall tally two years ago, the Filipinos are hoping to improve their standing despite the reduced number of sports and events.

From 41 sports in Thailand, this year's games feature 25 sports with the Filipinos seeing action in all but three disciplines.

They are expected to perform well in aquatics, athletics, taekwondo and boxing.

Gold medal forecasts vary with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) eyeing to surpass the 41-gold production two years ago in Thailand.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the government sports agency, sees a modest haul of 20 gold medals.

Despite the much publicized feud between the POC and the PSC, Filipino athletes are largely unaffected and go about their business of preparing for the difficult tasks ahead.

The Philippines has already won a silver medal in water polo and has been assured of two bronzes in sepak takraw.

DepEd-PTA to search for the next ‘Taekwondo Manny Pacquiao’

By Joel Lacsamana TBB 6

How do you solve a problem like getting the first Philippine gold medal in the Olympics?
Nothing to it. Sports leaders, experts, pundits and even old time sports scribes way back in the 1930s — the acknowledged golden age of Philippine sports — have the inside track on how other countries do it and in the process, leave the politics-wracked Philippine sports scene eating their collective dust).

It’s not rocket science: it’s called grassroots sports development. No frills. No shortcuts. Just a lot of hard, nose-to-the-grindstone work. Forget glamor: one rarely lands in the sports pages or game-of-the-week highlights, say, the way PBA players with fat paychecks do.

And it’s simple ( probably a major reason why Philippine sports leaders don’t like it ) : you come up with a program to train trainors who will then teach kids - millions of them - how to learn, play, excel, but most important of all, enjoy sports all over the country.
With a wider pool from which to choose the best of the best athletes, you have a bigger chance to win sports laurels abroad. And those who don’t become sports champions - well, believe it or not, a country gets to be infinitely better with them. They get to build a nation of take-no-names go-getters, disciplined team players, and just plain overall good guys who like to compete - fair and square. Not like highly paid prima donnas who sulk when things don’t go their way, throw games, and/or move on to another team at the drop of the hat.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association, together with several key private sector partners, are poised to embark on such a grassroots program, to make Taekwondo a very accessible sport not only forstudents in the private schools, but in over 46,000 public schools (reaching over 15 million students) as well. This is part of the PTA’s gameplan to leave no stone unturned in its quest for glory in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and Summer Olympic Games in 2016.
The grassroots program targets primary and secondary students by helping the DepEd select passionate personnel, and train them to teach special ‘Sports Taekwondo’ modules at the regional, division andschool levels. The objective is to build a nationwide cadre of dedicated, tournament-ready, management-oriented, and ethics-driven teachers who will sustain this grassroots initiative.

The PTA is currently working with the Department of Education to put the final touches to the plan to make Taekwondo an official part of the curriculum in all public schools. Taekwondo has been a major part of the annual, DepEd-managed Palarong Pambansa over the past decade. The next logical step would be to offer it through the Department’s Physical Education program. This supports the DepEd’s thrust of ‘Education for All’. With the problem of school drop out rates soaring, and high school National Achievement Tests (NAT) scores plummeting, free Taekwondo lessons at the grassroots level might just help kids stay in school - instead of the streets - and be motivated enough to hit the books a tad harder.

Hopefully, the program, when it kicks off in school-year 2009-2010, will help both the PTA and DepEd to discover, develop, and maximize potential Taekwondo talents from Aparri to Jolo. Bottomline: the next Manny Pacquiao, with the heart of a lion, will emerge from these far-flung country public schools, and crowded, urban centers, but this time, they will be practicing the ancient Korean art of Taekwondo.

And for the millions of kids with lion-sized dreams who don’t get to represent the country abroad, well, the Philippines will be the better for them.

Article from PTA Website

2009 Marikina Open Taekwondo Championships

After a few months of hiatus from actual competitions brought about by various activities at San Sebastian College - Recoletos (SSC-R) immediately after the 2008 National Age-Group Championships held last October 11-12, 2008 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS), six (6) Grade School jins from Team Recoletos plunged back into action last February 28, 2009 at the 2009 Marikina Open Taekwondo Championships held at the Roosevelt College - Marikina (RCM).

The six (6) select members of Team Recoletos who fought under the tutelage of Coach Jose Regie Madarang of Golden Eagle Taekwondo Chapter were high red-belter Gershom Norman Montes, low red-belters siblings Ma. Beatriz Francesca Paguia and Marion Emmanuel Paguia, high blue-belters Adryl Justine Ordonio, Ivan Andrei Erestain and Randell Jan Evaristo. All six (6) jins were up to the task as they all fought with big heart and determination. Five (5) of the six (6) jins went home with medals, the first time in the illustrious history of Team Recoletos where almost all its participants in a particular tournament of this magnitude brought home a medal.

Ordonio and Evaristo brought home the gold medals in their respective divisions while Emman Paguia won the silver medal in his division and Bianca Paguia and Erestain bagged bronze medals in their divisions. Montes lost to more experienced brown-belter in his first match.

Ordonio beat three (3) opponents on the way to his gold-medal winning performance while Evaristo drew a walkover in his first match then handily beat his opponent in the championship round. Emman Paguia also won his first match by default and gallantly fought his quicker opponent in the finals where he lost by a close 6 – 4 score after identical scores of 3 – 2 in the two (2) round finals match.

Bianca Paguia was on her way to a close victory in her semifinal match but eventually retired from the said match as she injured her right knee during a fierce exchange of heated kicks in the second round. Erestain, on the other hand, won his first match via sudden death after it ended in a 2-all standoff but lost out to fellow Golden Eagle member Sealtiel Madarang in the semifinals who eventually won the gold medal in their division. In fact, all the Madarang siblings won medals in the said tournament with Uriel and Ar-j also winning gold medals in their divisions and Paulina bagging the silver medal after suffering asthma in the finals that forced her to forfeit her match.

Truly a remarkable feat for Team Recoletos (and Team Golden Eagle, for that matter) as they continue to reap the dividends of a rigorous training they are undergoing at Marikina where they get to meet junior taekwondo players from other schools like De La Salle Greenhills, Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University.

BRAVO BASTE!!!

2008 National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships

San Sebastian College - Recoletos (SSC-R) continued its year-long participation in national taekwondo competitions as it sent two (2) teams to the 2008 National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships held last September 20-21, 2008 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila.

Team Recoletos was entered in the Boys' Novice and Advance categories and were represented by the following jins: Randell Jan Evaristo, Julian Luis Serran, Jon Ehroin Barawid, John Adrian Jacalne and Lean Andre Serran in the boys' novice category while the boys' advance category was composed of Marion Emmanuel O. Paguia, Paul Christian Cabiles, Rannie Stefano Pabilico, Leonardo Bautista III and Billy Marasigan.

In the boys' advance category, as their opening opponents for the said tournament, Team Recoletos received a first round bye and awaited the winner between La Salle Greenhills and Lourdes School of Quezon City (LSQC). La Salle eventually won by walkover over LSQC and earned the right to face Team Recoletos in the next round. However, jins Paguia, Cabiles, Pabilico and Bautista all dropped their matches against their respective La Salle counterparts and it was only Marasigan who posted a win for Team Recoletos as he averted a shut-out loss for SSC-R.

On the other hand, in the boys' novice categories, Team Recoletos came out on fire as their first two (2) jins, Evaristo and Luis Serran, both won their matches over their respective rivals only to see the next three (3) drop their matches in varying fashions as it dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker against La Salle Greenhils.

Nat’l taekwondo tourney lures big field

The San Sebastian Taekwondo Club joins in yet again a history in the making in the field of taekwondo sports when it clashes with the best in the 2008 Smart/Petron National Inter-school Taekwondo Championships which will be held on Sept. 20 to 21 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Close to 1,500 athletes from 600 schools are expected to vie for honors in the said event.

“This event is important because it gives our upcoming athletes the chance to demonstrate the techniques and styles they have learned so far in the sport,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) president Robert Aventajado.

All schools all over the country affiliated with the PTA will see action in eight divisions categorized into seniors, juniors and grade schools. Each division will feature men and women in the novice and advance groups.

Coach Jec Panotes of Team Recoletos fielded in two teams, one team each in the novice and advanced category. Each team will be allowed five players and two alternates in the competition sponsored by Smart Communications, PLDT, Petron, Adidas, Philippine Sports Commission and Milo.

Among the schools and universities participating are De La Salle University-Taft, Araneta, Zobel, Lipa and Dasmariñas, College of St. Benilde, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo, Far Eastern University, University of the East, San Sebastian College-Manila, San Beda Alabang, Mendiola and Taytay, Letran College, Don Bosco School of Makati and Mandaluyong, St. Theresa’s College, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong and QC, OBMC, University of Batangas, PNPA, Philippine Military Academy, Diliman Preparatory School, School of St. Anthony, St. Vincent School, UPIS and Rizal High School.

Department of Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani will be guest of honor during the opening ceremony at 1 p.m.

Martial arts enthusiasts and sports addicts, especially children who are interested to learn taekwondo, are invited to watch the action starting at 9 a.m.

Blog Source: The Daily Tribune

Stags eye Final 4 seat

WITH no less than a Final Four berth at stake, San Sebastian College plays San Beda College in today’s make-or-break encounter in the 84 th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Stags will actually gun for a ninth straight win that could change the entire scenario for the teams going into the next crucial phase.

Last Friday, the Stags beat the College of St. Benilde Blazers , 58-51, their eighth straight, to move into a tie with Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers at second spot behind the Lions at 9-4.

The Red Lions, meanwhile, stayed in front at 9-3 following their 91-74 drubbing of the Blazers last Wednesday.

If the Lions prevail over the Stags today, they will be assured of the first twice-to-beat bonus, while relegating San Sebastian to fourth spot.

This, in turn, will give the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers a chance to go for the second twice-to-beat incentive.

But a victory by the Stags will put them closer to a berth in the semis and a possible first finals berth for the first time in 11 years.

“At least, we still have a shot at the Top 2. Our journey does not end here with this win,” said Stags coach Jorge Gallent.

Blog Source: Manila Standard Today

Let Plueys Take you Places

Now, new reasons to celebrate the rain!

Bright Cloud Inc., the first who brought Plueys here in Manila, recently launched its new array of collections at the Rockwell Bazaar last August 15 to 18. With the first set of designs called Plueys Personalities, new designs tagged as "Plueys Destinations" are set to give Filipinos more reasons to enjoy the rain.

These flashy boots or Wellingtons as known in the UK and in the US, are designed to protect the feet from puddles without compromising class and elegance. Set to give the ladies a new sense of fashion during this rainy season, these new set of collections will surely rock the streets.

TOKYO RAIN

Capture the fun and playful sentiments of Japan's Harajuku girls with Tokyo Rain, a colorful upbeat tahe on a cheery rainy day in Tokyo's most animated district.

ARGYLE CRUSH

Evoke the preppy fashion of a wealthy, privately schooled urbanites with
the iconic, three dimensional diamond pattern in the Argyle Crush, typical of Upper East Side style, and reminiscent of vacations at the Hamptons or spring afternoons watching a game of lacrosse.







OOOH LA LACE

Hold hands and sashay down Paris' fashionable streets in Ohhh La Lace. Let this black and white boot with intricate lace and heart prints do the flirting for you, and fall in love over and over again.








MATCH POINT

With this tennis racket prints and cool blue and green palette that gamely reflect palm beach camaraderie, serve up an ace in Match Point and five off that spirited vibe.








CATSTOOTH

Don't judge a boot by its cover. A closer look at this classic reveals a clever take on the popular houndstooth print, neatly fined felines in place of traditional ckecks - -how cheeky!







Plueys has a new and improved website. Visit them at http://www.plueysmanila.com/

Taekwondo Revolution of Kicks

This is a step-by-step tutorial video on how to properly deliver a roundhouse kick. This video also shows a systematic way in exercising the technique. This video is provided by YouTube uploaded by rayqb

Plueys at the Rockwell Urban Bazaar

Catch up with your friends from Plueys at the Rockwell Urban Bazaar this weekend (Aug 15 to 17)--something new might just be waiting for you! Celebrate the Rain!

Taekwondo Tutorials

Have you ever wondered how knockout kicks are delivered? Well, it encompasses rigorous training and patience. Of course no one can ever learn these things overnight. With the videos below, try and see how these precious kicks are delivered...step by step.

Here are the list of the tutorial videos:

1. Axe kick
2. Jumping back kick
3. Spinning hook kick 1
4. Spinning hook kick 2
5. Back kick
6. Brazilian kick and
7. tornado kick/360 degrees roundhouse

Videos courtesy of kyryllo

Axe Kick Tutorial

Video by kyryllo

It's pretty clear that you need pretty good flexibility to perform the kick it is also important to know the propper technique in order to bring some force into it. It's not only rasing the leg and putting it on the target, if you are doing it that way you then can just leave it.

There are multipple ways to make an axe kick: stiff leg or chambered, inside, outside, front.

Stiff leg version(the leg stays straight while raising)is the more physicaly demanding, but produces more force than the chambered version, which is much faster though.

Upward Movement:
Untill the foot reaches it's highest point the hips should be square to the target the head should be upright and the back curved, the foot of the supporting leg should show forward.

In the stiff leg version the leg should be swung up high in a inside/outside curve or to the front. This should be done with the highest velocity and as high as possible. When the leg reaches it's highest point, the muscles and ligamets are tensed and stop the upward movement, this tension forces the muscles to contract which dramaticaly increases the downward velocity later.

In the chambered version the leg goes up chambered (bent) in an inside/outside curve or the front and is exetended above the target (hint: front kick above the target)

Downward Movement:
The key point in both versions is the hip movement. When the foot reaches it's highest point you push your hip on the kicking leg side towards the target, turn your supporting leg outside, and lean slighty backward with your upper body (physicaly you are not leaning back, your upper body stays in place but your hips are going forward).
This initiates the active! downward movement of the leg, the axis is not!!! the knee but the hip joint and the main muscles are the glutei, supporting muscles are the ischio-curales.

Be sure that the movement is downward and not to the side, if this is the case you are turning your hips and or/leaning back too far.

To learn the correct hip movement you should start with a slow kick hip high, and performing a kind of a pushing motion starting from the supporting leg through the hips, then the inside curved stiff leged version with a full curve (crescent), then place your hand where the highest ballistic point should be and perform the hipmovement as soon the foot touches the hand.

The outside curved kick is the most difficult to bring the hip movement in it, because of the alternating movement directions.

Jumping Back Kick Tutorial

Video by kyryllo

The korean term is apbal joogo twio dwi Chagi. Apbal joogo means front foot feinting skipping motion, twio dwi chagi is jump back kick.

The first step is to bring your rear foot to your front leg creating a skipping motion. As you do this, throw your body into the opponent's safety zone. The second step is execute a jumping back kick with the rear leg, without losing your balance. To do so, align your body in the air so that you don't rotate excessively.

The primary target is the middle section. The secondary is the head which may result in a knockout if done correctly and with sufficient force. In competition, you must do this technique confidently. Once you start, there is no way back. Relax your muscles just before you jump and follow through with firm conviction.

Spinning Hook Kick Tutorial version 1

Video by kyryllo

Step by step, basics:
Turn around 180°
bend the supporting leg a little
stick your butt out
watch over the shoulder
the upper body rotates somewhat in the kick direction

hold your kicking leg loose but straight
throw it in an arcuated motion
stretch the supporting leg
the hip leads the motion not the leg!
bend down your upper body
the angle between supporting leg and body should not be under 110°-120°
the shoulder/scapula point to the target

shortly before the foot reaches the target rotate the upper body in the opposite of the kick direction while flexing the gluteus which give the leg the last bit of acceleration

when hitting the target the leg is straight
after hitting the target you can bend the leg or just swing it out

Practice the kicking motion on the wall like it is shown in the video, while doing it make sure both of your hands are on the wall when you do the kick and release them only as soon as you "hit the target", other wise you could over turn the body which would mess up the whole technique. Don't swing the arms too much. If the basic technique works try to begin the kicking motion while turning around as it is shown around sec. 00:40 into the video, faster.

Spinning Hook Kick Tutorial version 2

Video by kyryllo

The kick works the same way, the steps are the same eccept for the path of the foot. Bend the leg and throw a very chambered roundhouse or a spinning side kick so that the foot lands 15-30 cm lateral from the target. Shortly before the leg fully stretches begin to flex the gluteus a make the countermotion with the upper body. Follow through the target with the straight leg bend it as soon you hit the target.

Back Kick tutorial

Video by kyryllo

Two "versions": Basic and Attacking

Step by Step

Basics:
1.Turn around till your back is facing the target

2.Bend your upper body down and bring your wieght on your supporting leg, while sticking your butt in the direction of the target

(The basic technique also incluedes turning the head and looking at the target over the shoulder on the kicking side at this point, however experienced fighters tend not to look at all or just glance with the corner of the eye. In reality the foot goes so fast that you have no oportunity anymore to correct the kick, so looking and aiming becomes obsolete. You aim before you launch the kick!)

3.Chamber the leg by bending the knee as far as you can, the heel should point at the target, the knee MUST point down

4.Straighten your leg in a pushing motion towards the target

5.Impact happens with the flat foot or (better) with the heel.


Advanced, Attacking back kick:
Bounce forward to bring the weight above the front (later supporting) leg, at the same time perform the steps 1.-3. simultaneously

Points 4.+5. are obviously the same as in the basic technique.

You may slide on the supporting leg while performing it to gain distance but make sure to have a solid stand at the point of impact.

Important points:
knee MUST point down, back MUST face the target

head MAY turn around and look over the shoulder

the upper body SHOULD be bent, it improves the stability by bringing the center of gravity down and stops the rotating motion, it also gives you more power since the center of gravity is closer to the force vector and it is simply easier to raise the leg that way. However you can throw the kick standing upright, I wouldn't recomand it though.

Brazilian Kick Tutorial

Video courtesy of kyryllo

Use the kick if the opponent is backing up or is very defensive, also to end a combination. Don't use it if your opponent is known for rushing, shortening the distance or direct countering.

1. Start with a fake front or roundhouse kick (if trying the roundhouse make sure you don't throw the hips in becouse you won't have enough room for the kick later). The fake kick should be fast enough to cause a defensive reaction.

2. The next three things are important and MUST be performed simultaneously: 1)Snap the lower leg back and continue raising the knee; 2)Turn the hips; 3)Turn the supporting foot so that the heel shows to the target. Once again all these things SIMULTANEOUSLY!

3. If the lower leg and the thigh reach the same level begin to straighten your leg as fast as possible, the kicking action is performed in a somewhat down ward motion, achieved by turning your hips further while performing the last phase of the kick.

This is only a variation and not the only way to perform the kick. It's not an easy kick but very practical.

Tornado kick/360 roundhouse tutorial

Video by kyryllo

1. You kick with your LEAD LEG! and the turning motion is performed with the BACK FORWRAD! Very obvious but there are people who still confuse it.

2. Your kicking leg should be bent, Lead the swinging/suppporting leg as close as possible to the calf of the kicking leg. This initiates the turning motion.

3. Turn around on the ball of your kicking foot untill you clearly see the target again. The looking at the target serves as control if you turned around enough to launch the kick.

4. Jump up from the kicking foot on the supporting foot and perform a round house kick. The supporting foot must be planted at the time when the kick hits the target.

Important notes:
The kick is technicaly simple, though not very easy.

The major aspect of the kick is to transfer the motion force in to the kick, this requires a lot of repetition and adjustments.

Keep your kicking leg bent, it lowers your center of gravity which helps you with the stabilization of the rotating motion and you need a bent leg to actualy jump for launching the kick.

Although it seems that way this is NOT a jumping or flying kick. Try to reduce the time in the air to minimum if you want to bring force into the kick and be sure to stand on your supporting leg when you hit the target. At any split second that you spend in the air you lose force.

If you can't bring the hips into your kick, and hit the target with your knee showing up, you need to turn around much more before you launch the kick. Some people would jump highr to have more time to bring in the hips, it could work but as I said above it costs force.

The swinging leg controls the length of the kick. It should be lead very near to the kicking leg. Leaving it close to the kicking leg within the motion leads to a short kick, poining it towards the target makes the kick long.

Pinoys in high spirits

BEIJING - Everybody is looking good and feeling fine, something that has brought smiles on the faces of Team Philippines officials and coaches on the eve of the 29th Olympic Games coming off the wraps in lavish, expensive rites here.

"All of them (RP athletes) are in high spirits, ready to play," said Chief of Mission Monico Puen-tevella, calling from the 66-hectare Athletes' Village, where 20 officials and 13 players from one of the smallest teams ever to carry the RP tri-color in the Games are staying.

"Walang may sakit. And everyone is being looked after by our doctors, coaches and officials," added Puentevella, who is scheduled to lead Filipino officials in welcoming President Arroyo and her party Friday night.

In a few more days, the number of the RP team staying in the Village, home to more than 10,500 athletes from a record 205 nations, will increase with the arrival of the two taekwondo bets and their two coaches.

Since action in taekwondo will not begin until the second week of the Games, athletes Mari Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go and coaches Raul Samson and Kim Hong Sok will only depart Manila on Aug. 11.

According to Puentevella, the Filipino athletes have all gone through their usual training regimen since checking in at the huge Village, situated on the fringes of the Olympic Green that houses the iconic National Stadium or Bird's Nest and the Water Cube.

"Based on what they've (coaches and officials) told me, the athletes are doing well in their practice," said Puentevella, who headed the main bulk that arrived here Tuesday afternoon after a four-hour trip from Manila.

Blog Credits: Malaya

Rally behind Filipino Olympians, Villar urges nation

MANILA (PNA) -- Senate President Manuel Villar called on the entire nation to rally behind the 15 Filipino athletes who will try to realize the country’s age-old dream of winning its first ever Olympic gold in the forthcoming 2008 Beijing Games.

“Let us throw our all-out support to these 15 magnificent Filipino athletes who will carry our flag in the biggest sporting stage of them all for their victory will surely provide the needed boost in our quest for unity, prosperity and lasting peace,” said Villar in a statement.

Now one of the biggest benefactors of billiards, Villar urged his fellow leaders in government to invest in sports.

“We should look at sports as the best opportunity to bring back the lost confidence and faith of our people amid numerous problems besetting our country,” the Nacionalista Party president said.

“We lost our faith and confidence as an individual, and for that reason, our country continues to lose self-confidence. We should bring it back through sports which unites us as a nation every time somebody steps up in the international arena,” he added.

The man who is known for his “Sipag at Tiyaga” outlook also expressed confidence on each of the 15 Filipino athletes’ chances in the Games despite the overwhelming odds.

“We Filipinos are known for resiliency especially during hard times. So I’m very much confident that they would be able to overcome whatever disadvantage we have and achieve the victory that we’ve been longing for,” Villar said.

The Philippines has not won an Olympic gold since it joined the quadrennial meet in 1924. The best the country has done was winning two silver medals, the last coming in the 1996 edition in Atlanta courtesy of boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco. It also has won a total of seven bronze medals. The 15 Filipino athletes, who will slug it out with the world’s bests in their respective fields, are boxer Harry Tanamor, taekwondo jins Mary Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go, archer Mark Javier, shooter Eric Ang, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, tracksters Marestella Torres and Henry Dagmil, swimmers Miguel Molina, Ryan Arabejo, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh and Christel Simms, and divers Shiela Mae Perez and Rexel Ryan Fabriga. (PNA)

Blog Credits: Positive News Media

New Vios dangled for Olympic silver

MANILA, Philippines—JB Sports and Music and Toyota Balintawak on Monday joined forces to boost the reward package for athletes who will win at least a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

JB executive Jerico Fernandez, a martial arts enthusiast, and Toyota Balintawak’s Cosco Oben announced that they will give a brand new Toyota Vios to the first Filipino silver medalist in this year’s Olympics as well as the gold winners.

“This is our way to inspire our athletes,” Fernando and Oben said during a press conference attended by Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez and JB’s Jean Fernando.

The incentive for the Olympic gold medal has reached P15 million after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo added P4.5 million to the pot Friday.

Petron has also committed P1 million for a taekwondo gold, P600,000 for a silver and P300,000 for a bronze.

The silver medalist also stands to win P3 million, including the P2.5 million from the government.

Blog Credits: Cedelf P. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer