Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco finally received the honor he deserved 25 years after giving honor to the country for winning a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The silver medalist paid a courtesy call at Malacanang Palace on August 23 to personally receive the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kamagi, and P500,000 given by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Order of Lapu-Lapu is given to persons in the government or private sector who have rendered extraordinary service or have made exceptional contributions to the success of the President’s campaign or advocacy.

According to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the President decided to give Velasco the said award because he deserved it.

“Para kina Tatay Digong at Kuya Bong Go, hindi na importante kung anong administrasyon at sinong personalidad ang dapat tumupad ng mga pangako noon kay Onyok.” said Go.

“Ang mahalaga anila ay matanggap ng dating Olympian ang pagkilalang nararapat lamang para rito bilang pagpapahalaga sa kanyang kontribusyon sa larangan ng sports at pagiging inspirasyon sa mga bagong henerasyon ng mga atleta na sumunod sa kanyang yapak.” he added.

He’s the second Filipino athlete in history to receive such a medal so people were questioning why Velasco turned to comedy.

Filipino taekwondo icon Monsour del Rosario then revealed that Velasco entered the showbusiness instead of aiming for a gold medal in the next Olympics because of the lack of support.

“‘Yung pangako sa akin ng gobyerno 50 percent lang ang ibinigay, ‘yung 50 percent wala. Tapos kung alam mo iyong sakripisyo namin sa Cuba, yung training na dinanas namin na napakahirap, napakasakit yung bugbugan, para makalusot ako sa Olympics. Parang hindi ko na kayang ulitin yan. At magkano ang sweldo ng isang atleta? May tatlo akong anak . . . Hindi ko sila mabubuhay sa ganyang sweldo’.” Velasco said to del Rosario.

“‘Dito sa sitcom binabatuk-batukan ka lang ng artista rito.’ Sabi niya, ‘P20,000 naman kada batok’,” he added.