Sen. Joel Villanueva on Thursday filed several resolutions commending and honoring Filipino athletes who participated in the 2026 Asian Games.
In Senate Resolution No. 704, Villanueva noted the Philippine delegation’s historic achievement at the 20th Asian Games in Japan, where they earned 29 total medals – four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze – marking the country’s largest Asian Games medal haul since 1966.
‘These achievements reflect the dedication of the medalists and the entire Philippine delegation, as well as the contributions of their coaches, trainers, medical and support personnel, families, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the national sports associations,’ the proposed resolution read.
‘The Philippine team’s performance inspires young Filipinos to pursue excellence in sports and underscores the value of sustained athlete development, quality training, accessible facilities, and support for athletes’ health, welfare, and competitive opportunities,’ it further stated.
Among the athletes specifically mentioned in the resolution were:
Carlos Yulo, who won two gold medals in men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise and vault
Karl Eldrew Yulo, who won a bronze medal in men’s horizontal bar
EJ Obiena, who won his second consecutive gold medal in pole vaulting
John Cabang Tolentino and Victoria Bossong, who won bronze medals in the men’s 110-meter hurdles and women’s 800 meters, respectively
Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, who won gold in taekwondo and bronze in men’s individual poomsae
Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Keizha Mangin and Kurt Bryan Barbosa, who earned silver medals in women’s individual poomsae, the women’s 49-kilogram division and the men’s 58-kilogram division, respectively
Gilas Pilipinas Women, composed of Kacey dela Rosa, Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka and Maria Victoria Pasilang, who won silver in women’s 3×3 basketball
Jean Marie Sucalit, Abegail Sinogbuhan and Nelly Jay Salon, who earned the silver medal in sepak takraw
Jason Huerte, Jom Lerry Rafael, Reynaldo Asilum Jr., Glindel Phori and Ronsited Gabayeron, who secured a bronze medal in regu
Jean Claude Saclag, who won the silver medal in the men’s traditional 65-kilogram division, and Carlos Alvarez, who earned a bronze medal in the men’s traditional 77-kilogram division, both in mixed martial arts
Amaya Amparo Cojuangco, who secured the silver medal in the women’s individual compound event in archery
Carlo Paalam, who won the silver medal in the men’s 55-kilogram division in boxing
Alexandria Luz Enriquez, who claimed the silver medal in the women’s 63-kilogram division in jiu jitsu, and Jenna Kaila Napolis, who clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 52-kilogram division
The Philippine women’s soft tennis team, composed of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Christy Sañosa, Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas, who won bronze in the women’s team event
Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante and Rebecca Cyril Torres, who won a bronze medal in women’s team kata in karate, as well as Marie June Adriano, who earned a bronze medal in the women’s individual kumite 50-kilogram division
Albert Ian Delos Santos, who captured a bronze medal in the men’s 70-kilogram division in weightlifting
SIBOL, which earned two bronze medals in esports: one in Pokémon UNITE, with a team composed of Kim Rey Salazar, Michael Vaughn Ocio, Ducke Harnold Leoncio, Lawrence Anthony Gatmaitan, Robert Jon Mempin and Lance David; as well as another in Honor of Kings, with a team composed of Chammy Paul Nazarrea, Justine Ritchie Tan, Dragon Hart Dajao, Golden Hart Dajao, Charles Roman Esguerra and Jhon Mike Tungol
Jayuard Alciso, who claimed a bronze medal in men’s shortboard in surfing
Alexandra Eala, who won a bronze medal in tennis women’s singles
Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara, who secured the bronze medal in women’s beach volleyball
Villanueva also filed separate resolutions commending gold medalists Carlos Yulo, EJ Obiena and Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, as well as the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3 basketball team, which earned a silver medal.