Finnegan, Malabuyo say they weren’t informed of welcome; PCO says all Olympians invited thru POC, PSC

Despite gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo's comments on social media saying they were not aware of the welcoming ceremony held on Tuesday at the Malacañang Palace, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Thursday said that all Filipino Olympians were invited to the event.

Finnegan responded to a comment on social media asking why didn't attend the welcome ceremony. She said: "We were not informed of the event." In a different social media exchange, Malabuyo said, "I wanted to go but they didn't tell me about it."

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing, Assistant Secretary Dale de Vera was asked about the information that Finnegan and Malabuyo were not invited to the event.

De Vera explained that while all were invited, Malacañang did not directly extend the invitation to the Filipino athletes. He also noted that Finnegan and Malabuyo were among the Olympians who went straight to their next competitions.

''Hindi natin masasabi na hindi na-invite (we can't say that they were not invited), all athletes, all the Paris Olympians from the Philippines were invited to attend the ceremony at the Palace. Pero 'yun nga po, linawin natin (but let's clarify) the invitations were coursed through the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission at hindi po siya directly to the athletes,'' he said.

''We were informed that five athletes were flown directly to their next competition. Ang apat po sa kanila ay lumipad papunta sa US at 'yung isa naman ay may competition sa Scotland. Kasama po ang ating gymnast na si Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo doon sa mga may competition or pumunta ng US right after the Paris Olympics,'' he added.

(Four of them went straight to the US while the other one has a competition in Scotland. Gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo were among those who went straight to the US after the Paris Olympics.)

The Philippine Olympic Committee, meanwhile, said all they knew was that the athletes had left early and that their National Sports Association (NSA) would be able to explain the situation.

"'Yung NSA na lang nila ang mag-explain doon. Wala naman kaming, ang alam kasi namin umalis na sila ng maaga," POC president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino said in a 24 Oras report by Sandra Aguinaldo.

(Let the NSA be the one to explain it. What we know is that they left early.)

The Philippines emerged as the best Southeast Asian team in the Olympics after closing out Paris 2024 with four medals.

The country wrapped up the Summer Games at the 37th spot with two gold medals from Yulo, who ruled the men's floor exercise and vault, and two bronze medals courtesy of Petecio and Villegas.

Marcos doubled the cash rewards given to double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and bronze medalists Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio following their success in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The other Olympians were granted P1 million each.

The PCO assured that all of the athletes, including those who were not at the ceremony, would be receiving the cash reward.

"Walang pong maiiwan. Isa isa sila, meron. The athletes and the coaches should coordinate with the Philippine Sports Commission para mai-refer sila sa point person ng Office of the President para ma-claim," De Vera added.

(No one will be left behind. There will be rewards for each one. The athletes and coaches should coordinate with the Philippine Sports Commission so they can be referred to the point person of the Office of the President so they can claim it.)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the athletes as well as to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines for comment but has not received a response.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News