MARCH 3, 2014

NR # 3394

Solons commend Filipino ice skater Michael Martinez

Lawmakers have commended through various resolutions Filipino ice skater Michael Christian Martinez who participated in the 22 nd Winter Olympic Games recently held at Sochi !ussia" Speaker Feliciano #elmonte said the talented Michael Christian gave an impressive per$ormance at the 2%&' Winter Olympics reaching &( th place overall in the men)s $igure skating event" Martinez got a score o$ *'"+& points $or the short program and &&("'' $or the $inal $ree skate routine $or a cumulative score o$ &+'"2, points" -.he athlete has shown tremendous talent a/ility and heart 0uietly achieving his dream o$ competing despite numerous o/stacles and in1uries through the years 2 the Speaker said" -.hrough sheer determination and hard work Martinez 0uali$ied in this years) Winter Olympics /ecoming the $irst Filipino and the sole athlete to ever compete $rom a Southeast 3sian nation to reach the $inals o$ the Men)s Free Skating event 2 the Speaker said" .he Speaker said Martinez has e4hi/ited tremendous pride and 1oy in representing the 5hilippines at the 2%&' Winter Olympics serving as an inspiration to his countrymen especially the young generation o$ today when he showed the whole world the a/ility o$ the Filipino to surpass any limitation and e4cel in any $ield" !ep" 6mmanuel 5ac0uiao 7Lone 8istrict Sarangani9 who $iled :ouse !esolution +', also commended the athlete)s mother Maria .eresa Martinez -$or her love sacri$ice and unwavering support $or her son2" 5ac0uiao said an achievement that garners international recognition and a character display that is worthy o$ emulation should /e given due recognition" -8espite /eing /orn with asthma and $re0uently in the hospital due to asthmatic /ronchitis at such a young age Michael Christian now &; years old triumphed over the said medical condition through hard work there/y /eing worthy o$ admiration 2 5ac0uiao said" !ep" 6ric Olivarez 7&st 8istrict 5ara<a0ue City9 said Martinez deserves commendation $or /eing one o$ the $ew athletes to 0uali$y $or the Winter Olympic games despite his very young age and the country)s want o$ snow"

!ep" .erry !idon 75arty List Kabataan9 said Martinez serves not only as an inspiration $or Filipino athletes and the youth /ut also raises a compelling challenge $or the national government to once and $or all $ul$ill its constitutional mandate to support Filipino athletes /y implementing a comprehensive and state=$unded athletic training program in various sports including $igure skating" !ep" Lucy Marie .orres Gomez 7'th 8istrict Leyte9 said Martinez)s very memora/le sports accomplishment is a wake up call to all sectors o$ 5hilippine society to pull their acts together and allocate more resources $or the training o$ local athletes especially those with world=class potentials" !ep" Winston Castelo 72nd 8istrict >uezon City9 said Martinez $inely demonstrated the indomita/le spirit that em/oldens the Filipinos" Martinez has received a /ronze medal at the 2%&? @unior Grand 5ri4 .allinn CupA a gold medal at the ;th 6uropa Cup Skate :elenaA won his $irst senior international title at the 2%&2 Crystal Skate o$ !omaniaA $inished ,th place at the ,th World @unior ChampionshipsA 'th place at the 2%&?=&' Bnternational Skating Cnion @unior Grand 5ri4 !iga CupA and ;th place at the 2%&? De/elhorn .rophy senior international $igure skating competition" .he commendation o$ the Filipino athlete was contained in :ouse !esolutions +?+ +2; +2+ +2( +?& +?2 +?' +?( +'' +,; +*% +'2 +22 and +?* authored respectively /y Ma1ority Leader Deptali Gonzales BB 7Lone 8istrict Mandaluyong City9 and Minority Leader !onaldo Eamora 7Lone 8istrict San @uan City9 !eps" Gre4 Lagman 7& st 8istrict 3l/ay9 !odol$o #iazon 7Lone 8istrict Muntilupa City9 Maria Carmen Eamora 7& st 8istrict Compostela Falley9 Magtanggol Gunigundo 72 nd 8istrict Falenzuela City9 3nthony 8el !osario 7&st 8istrict 8avao 8el Dorte9 Ferdinand Martin !omualdez 7&st 8istrict Leyte9 Gloria Macapagal=3rroyo 72nd 8istrict 5ampanga9 8iosdado Macapagal 3rroyo 72nd 8istrict Camarines Sur9 @ose 3tienza @r"75arty List #uhay9 @onathan 8e La Cruz 75arty List 3#3G3839 Fictor Francisco Ortega 7& st 8istrict La Cnion9 5hilip 5ichay 7&st 8istrict Surigao 8el Sur9 Lani Mercado=!evilla 72 nd 8istrict Cavite9 3leta Suarez 7?rd 8istrict >uezon9 .o/y .iangco 7Lone 8istrict Davotas City9 3ko #icol 5arty List !eps" Christopher Co and !odel #atoca/e and 3 .eacher 5arty List !eps" Mariano 5iamonte @r" and @ulieta Cortuna" 7?%9 jc