By MARK REY MONTEJO
True to her new-found status as a conquering hero, Paris Games bronze medalist Aira Villegas was welcomed and honored by local officials and adoring fans when she returned to Tacloban City on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Villegas’ name was chanted lustily during the parade that saw the boxer responding with sweet a smile while waving her one hand from time to time and the other holding her medal, which to local folks, shines like a gold medal,
At the end of the parade, to the delight of the Villegas family, she received P1 million from the city government and another 1 million as a personal gift from Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
Counting the P2 million from business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, she received P4 million for the day.
Villegas, who started her boxing career more than a decade ago, vowed to give back to aspiring athletes by giving them free uniforms.
Fellow bronze medal winner and boxer Nesthy Petecio also received the same warm welcome when she went home to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Tuesday.
The two-time Olympian was with her family as they dropped by at the city hall where she received a P800,000 cash incentive from the Sangguniang Bayan.
Like Villegas, Petecio shall also receive the same amount from Pangilinan.
Apart from the P10 million he received from Pangilinan, double gold medalist Carlos Yulo also got a new car for the day courtesy of Chery Tiggo.
