Olmin Leyba of The Philippine Star reports that President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III-in a message read by Department of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras during the send-off party for the Philippine Olympic team on Monday night (June 25)-"challenged the 11 Filipino athletes set to compete in the Olympics in London to end the Philippines’ 16-year medal drought in the quadrennial games." In the message, Aquino said, "I know the world may not be expecting us to take home multiple gold medals. But I believe in the capacity of the Filipino to surprise. I believe in the capacity of the Filipino to be excellent in anything they do-to be world class."
- Mark Anthony Barriga (boxing)
- Marestella Torres(track)
- Rene Herrera (track)
- Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming)
- Jessie Khing Lacuna (swimming)
- Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting)
- Brian Rosario (shooting)
- Tomohiko Hoshina (judo)
- Daniel Caluag (BMX rider)
- Mark Javier (archery)
- Rachelle Anne Cabral-dela Cruz (archery)
The report noted that "the 2012 delegation is the leanest since the country sent 12 in the 1996 Games in Atlanta, where boxer Mansueto ’Onyok’ Velasco got a silver medal." The 2012 Olympics will run from July 27 to August 12.
For more on this story, log on to Phistar.com.