Tag Archives: figure skating

International, Politics, Sports, The Media

NORWAY POLITELY DECLINES PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S OFFER OF FINANCIAL AID TO FILIPINO-NORWEGIAN OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER

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Fil-Norwegian figure skater Anne Line Gjersem
Fil-Norwegian figure skater Anne Line Gjersem

Oslo, Norway – The Philippines’ Aquino government, in an apparent move to focus attention away from its failure to provide financial help to its lone athlete in the Sochi Winter Olympics,  has offered some money to help with the expenses of Norway’s first Olympic figure skater in 50 years.  The skater, Anne Line Gjersem, is half Filipina, born to a Norwegian father and Filipina mother. Gjersem’s mother, Perlita Bangug, hails from Ilagan, Isabela in Northern Philippines.  Anne Line has a twin sister who is also a figure skater.

The Aquino administration has come under fire after it was revealed that it had not provided a single penny to help with the expenses of the Philippines’ and Southeast Asia’s first Olympic figure skater, Michael Christian Martinez.  Presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma has been on the defensive about Martinez’s case, telling reporters that budget allocation, competitive edge in sports, and lately, spam mail, were among the reasons that Malacañang (the Philippine presidential palace) failed to support Martinez’s Olympic quest.

In a diplomatic cable sent to the Oslo government, President NoyNoy Aquino said: “On behalf of the proud Filipino people, please accept our offer of PH 44,000 Pesos to go towards the Olympic expenses of Anne Line Gjersem who is of Filipino heritage.  We will be cheering for Gjersem when she takes to the ice this week.”   (PH 44,000 pesos is roughly U.S. $1,000).

Norway sent Aquino an immediate cable reply, saying “Thanks, but no thanks.”image13.jpg

Gjersem is the 15th skater to perform at Wednesday’s Figure Skating Ladies’ short program.

(Update: Gjersem made it to the finals and finished 23rd out of 24 skaters in the free skates.)

the first Norwegian and the only figure skater to qualify for her country in an Olympic event after 50 years since 1964. – See more at: http://philnews.ph/2014/02/18/anne-line-gjersem-fil-norwegian-figure-skater-compete-sochi-olympics/#sthash.9CtkkxDw.dpuf
the first Norwegian and the only figure skater to qualify for her country in an Olympic event after 50 years since 1964. – See more at: http://philnews.ph/2014/02/18/anne-line-gjersem-fil-norwegian-figure-skater-compete-sochi-olympics/#sthash.9CtkkxDw.dpuf
the first Norwegian and the only figure skater to qualify for her country in an Olympic event after 50 years since 1964. – See more at: http://philnews.ph/2014/02/18/anne-line-gjersem-fil-norwegian-figure-skater-compete-sochi-olympics/#sthash.9CtkkxDw.dpuf
International, Politics, Sports, Technology

AQUINO ADMINISTRATION ON OLYMPIAN MICHAEL MARTINEZ’S REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL HELP: ‘WE DO NOT OPEN SPAM’

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imageManila, Philippines  – The administration of Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino continues to go on the defensive as more and more people have criticized the government’s zero financial support for Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez. The lone Filipino athlete in the Sochi Winter Olympics made an impressive Olympic debut last week, finishing 19th out of 24 skaters. He is the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to qualify for the Olympic figure skating competition.

Martinez’s mother said that she had sent Malacañang, the Philippine Presidential Palace, a request for help to finance her son’s participation in the Olympics but never received a response. image13.jpg

Today, presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma said that the request “may have come into Malacañang as ‘spam,’  and that per our policy, we do not open spams. We receive hundreds and hundreds of  requests, gifts and what have you, including imported cans of SPAM, but for security reasons we never open canned goods or other wrapped gifts.”

International, Politics, Sports, The Media

AQUINO ADMINISTRATION’S CONFESSION: PHILIPPINE OLYMPIAN MICHAEL CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ RECEIVED ZERO, NADA, ZILCH FROM US.

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Photo Credit: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Photo Credit: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Manila, Philippines –  Presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma on Sunday said that the allocation of the national budget was what prevented the Philippine government from providing funds for figure skater Michael Christian Martinez who represented the country in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Martinez was the lone Filipino athlete in Sochi and the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to compete in figure skating.  He finished 19th in a field of 24 in the men’s skating finals. Many believe he will be a medal contender in 2018.

Secretary  Coloma of the Presidential Communication Operations Office said in a radio interview that the priority of the government is to improve the livelihoods of the marginalized members of the society. He said these include, but not limited to “senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, their families and cronies, as well as big landowners like the President’s family.” He added that what was left of the budget allocated to athletics is for sports, which President Benigno Aquino III believes Filipinos have the “competitive edge.” Asked to name which sports the President considered competitive edge, Coloma said, “Gambling, cockfighting and mahjong.”

In the meantime, after inspiring a nation and earning the world’s attention, Michael Christian Martinez is set to receive a $10,000 bonus from business tycoon and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan through his MVP Sports Foundation.

Coloma said, “we are a nation of laws and every citizen needs to contribute to the prosperity of our country.” Pressed by reporters on what he meant by this comment, Coloma responded, “Michael Martinez must pay taxes on the $10,000 bonus he received.