Leyte Athlete Disappointed for Receiving Only P3,000 for Winning Gold at Palarong Pambansa
A young Leyte athlete was discouraged after receiving only P3,000 as a reward for winning a gold medal at Palarong Pambansa.
Recently, the 17-year-old athlete Efosa John Paul Aguinaldo reached to motivational speaker Rendor Labador. He shared his disappointment online after receiving only P3,000 as a reward for winning a gold medal in the secondary boys’ long jump event at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.
Aguinaldo, admitted that learning about the small cash prize made him feel discouraged. He trained hard and gave his best to bring pride to his province, only to feel unrecognized for his effort.
The gold medalist couldn’t help but compare his reward to that of athletes from other regions who reportedly received up to P200,000 for the same achievement.
Despite lacking proper gear, he trained without shoes but still managed to secure the top spot. His determination and dedication brought him victory, but the small incentive left him feeling unappreciated.
“Naiiyak nga ako. Sa ibang region, P200,000 nga bigay, tapos sakin P3,000 lang, Sobrang pagod kaya ng training. Nawalan ako ng gana, pero nagpursigi parin ako manalo,” he said.
Motivational speaker Rendon Labador took notice of Aguinaldo’s situation and expressed his concern in a Facebook post. He emphasized how sad it was to see a back-to-back champion receive such minimal support, especially when other local governments are showing strong encouragement to their young athletes.
As of this writing, there has been no official response from the Provincial Government of Leyte regarding Aguinaldo’s experience. Under the Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013, local government units have the authority to decide the amount of incentives given to their athletes.
Many internet users are now calling for fair treatment and better support for athletes who represent their communities on the national stage.
In a previous report, Leyte governor elicits reactions over P3k incentive for winning student-athletes
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
