The Valenzuela City Government recognized the honor brought by the Paralympians, namely Cecilio Bilog and Maria Teresa Bilog who competed in the recently concluded 11^th ASEAN Para Games Solo held in Surakarta, Indonesia last August, through Chief Executive, Mayor WES Gatchalian, at the Wellness, Entertainment and Sports (WES) Arena, October 13.

The siblings Cecilio Bilog and Maria Teresa Bilog brought home two medals each. Cecilio who bagged two silver medals in Men’s B1 Blitz Chess Team and Men’s B1 Standard Chess Team was given PHP 37,500 cash incentives, while Maria Teresa who nabbed two bronze medals in Women’s B2/B3 Standard Chess Team and Women’s B2/B3 Rapid Chess Team received PHP 25,000.

The city looks after the welfare of the national coaches and athletes that compete in other country and also the national athletes and coaches who bagged international recognition, by providing them benefits and incentives as way of promoting excellence in the field of sports.

Moreover, the move was in appreciation of the outstanding athletes who showed greatness in sports they participated in as a result of hard work in training. This is also in celebration of the international awards they bagged outside the country that Valenzuela City should be proud of.

In his short speech during the awarding ceremony, Mayor WES expressed his admiration to the two Paralympians. He personally thanked them for the pride and honor they brought home for the City of Valenzuela.

“[Ang WES Arena na ito,] we built this to build more dreams and more hopes for the Valenzuelano. Nagpapasalamat po ako [at] karangalan sa akin na ihandog ang cash incentives na galing po sa ating lokal na pamahalaan sa ating dalawang genius ng Para Olympics,” [(This WES Arena,) we built this to build more dreams and more hope for the Valenzuelano. I am grateful, and it’s an honor to present the cash incentives from our local government for our two Para Olympics geniuses]

In the end, Mayor WES wanted this feat to serve as inspiration to achieve more recognition in the name of sports for the city and the country. He also encouraged every Valenzuelano who wants to participate in various sports programs by the local government.

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