Nesthy Petecio. (Photo from Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines Facebook)
MANILA – A Senate Medal of Excellence is sought for Nesthy Petecio for being the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada filed on Thursday Senate Resolution No. 1122 seeking to confer Petecio with the highest expression of national appreciation for the honor she has brought to the country.
“Petecio embodied relentless pursuit of excellence with her mantra ‘walang hinto hangga’t walang ginto’ (no stopping while there’s no gold) and many years of hard work and intense training since taking up the sport competitively in 2007,” Estrada said in a news release.
Petecio, he said, already etched a mark in the Philippine boxing history coming from the Olympic successes of Jose Villanueva in 1932, Anthony Villanueva in 1964, Leopoldo Serantes in 1988, Roel Velasco in 1992 and Mansueto Velasco Jr. in 1996.
“The two-time Olympic medalist has proven herself as a world-class athlete as she has consistently brought pride to the country with her strong performances in the ring,” Estrada said.
Petecio also achieved various accolades, including the AIBA Women's Boxing World Championship title, three-time Asian championship medals, and two-time Southeast Asian Games champion.
Her bronze medal in Paris and silver in Tokyo placed her among elite Filipino athletes with two Olympic medals.
In her Olympic journey, she secured notable victories before ultimately securing the bronze medal in the women’s 57kg division.
Senators are also discussing whether to award a Senate Medal of Excellence to World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena despite being unable to clear the 5.95-m mark in three attempts, which placed him a spot short of a bronze medal. (PNA)
