Carlo Paalam, who recently moved up to a higher weight class, expressed gratitude for the financial assistance he received before traveling to Paris, France.
Receiving a check for P500,000 in support of his campaign for the upcoming Paris Olympics was a significant blessing for him.
“Safe kami sa biyahe. Sobrang saya, kasama kong ang team ko,” said the 25-year-old Paalam, after joining nine of the 15 Paris Olympics-bound athletes to personally receive the financial assistance provided by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports.
Paalam, who has returned to action after his second World Boxing Olympic Qualification, earned his ticket to the Paris Games two months ago by winning a unanimous decision over India’s Sachin Sachin in the semifinals of the men’s 57kg division. This victory followed his success in all five bouts during the second World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Makakatulong ito. Maiiwan dito ang pamilya ko,” added Paalam, referring to his young daughter Celest and his wife Earl Shane.
Hailing from Cagayan de Oro, Paalam is coming off an injury that forced him to withdraw in the Round of 16 at the World Qualification Tournament last March. However, he is expected to make a strong comeback as the first batch of the 15 Filipino athletes has begun training at the Metz camp in La Moselle.
The athletes who have qualified for the Olympics and are now in Paris include weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando, boxers Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan, Carlo Paalam, and Nesthy Petecio, rower Joanie Delgaco, and weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza.
In his capacity as chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Sen. Go personally distributed checks to the members of the Philippine contingent, totaling around P7.5 million.
