Maria Virginia Sy

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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SONA 2025

Camille Naredo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175371673987620250728-marcos-sona-congress-JC0896.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025.   <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em><br/> </span></span></span>MANILA -- Aspiring athletes who hope to follow in the footsteps of champions will receive support from the government, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Monday during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).</div><p>Marcos Jr. vowed full support for athletes as well as national sporting events, and bared plans to create a new nationwide program for sports development. </p><p>&quot;Magbubuhos tayo ng todo-suporta sa mga palaro at mga atleta sa buong bansa,&quot; said Marcos Jr. &quot;Bubuo tayo ng bagong pambansang programa sa sports development.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Uumpisahan natin ito sa paaralan pa lamang. Ibabalik natin ang mga sports clubs at magsasagawa tayo ng mga palaro at intrams sa lahat ng mga pampublikong paaralan,&quot; he added.</p><p>He assured that the Philippine Sports Commission and PAGCOR will continue to support Filipino athletes and sporting programs all over the country. </p><p>This is in hopes of producing more world-class athletes to follow the likes of former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Olympic gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo, boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and tennis star Alex Eala.</p><p>Marcos Jr. also hailed para-athletes, including veterans Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom, and Ernie Gawilan. He made special mention of the Philippine men&#x27;s curling team, which made history earlier this year by winning gold in the Asian Winter Games.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/2/18/ph-mens-curling-team-receives-incentives-after-historic-gold-1608">READ: PH men&#x27;s curling team receives incentives after historic gold</a></div><p>The president drew laughter when he included Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III in the list of champions, a reference to his supposed &quot;boxing match&quot; against Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian &quot;Baste&quot; Duterte on Sunday.</p><p>The match did not push through as Duterte did not show up, but the event raised more than P16-million for disaster aid that was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.</p><p>&quot;Nagulat si Chief PNP,&quot; Marcos Jr. quipped.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/torre-ready-for-marcos-next-instructions-sees-no-need-for-rematch-with-baste-duterte-1405">READ: Torre ready for Marcos&#x27; next instructions; sees no need for rematch with Baste Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;Kilalanin natin ang mga atleta na umani ng karangalan para sa Pilipinas,&quot; he added. &quot;Hindi lamang sila nakapaghatid ng kasiyahan sa buong sambayanan. Pinalakas pa nila ang ating pagmamahal sa bayan, at lalo pang pinatingkad ang dangal ng bawat Pilipino.&quot;</p><p>In late June, Patrick Gregorio replaced Richard Bachmann as chairman of the PSC. Gregorio has since implemented a P5,000 increase in the monthly salaries of national athletes and coaches, and bared plans to boost sports tourism.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/24/national-athletes-coaches-to-start-receiving-p5-000-increase-next-month-1702">READ: National athletes, coaches to start receiving P5,000 increase next month</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/1/new-psc-chief-gregorio-eyes-creation-of-natl-sports-foundation-boosting-sports-tourism-1531">READ: New PSC chief Gregorio eyes creation of nat’l sports foundation, boosting sports tourism</a></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz86TOfDIfqXIe&amp;cid=ABdD_ql8e9BtfIUn"></script>

<p>Aspiring athletes who hope to follow in the footsteps of champions will receive support from the government, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Monday during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).</p>

Aspiring athletes who hope to follow in the footsteps of champions will receive support from the government, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Monday during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Marcos Jr. vows full support for athletes, eyes nationwide sports dev't program

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Marcos Jr. vows full support for athletes, eyes nationwide sports dev't program

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2025 04:58 PM PHT

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Updated October 25, 2025 02:43 PM PHT

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