- Gretchen Malalad reacted to the government spending 50 million on a cauldron instead of athletes’ support.
- Mocha Uson defended the cauldron and government’s support for the athletes.
Former athlete and journalist Gretchen Malalad shared her sentiments over the controversial 50 million-peso Sea Games 2019 cauldron.
In a tweet, the former SEA Games gold medalist slammed the government for allocating 50M funding for the construction of the SEAG cauldron despite lack of support for the Filipino athletes.
“The athletes don’t need a 50M cauldron. Come on! yang kaldero na yan dapat nilagay sa budget ng kalderong pangkain! Idagdag niyo na lng sana sa food budget ng atleta. O di kaya para sa training. #supportourathletes,” Gretchen tweeted.
The athletes don’t need a 50M cauldron. Come on! yang kaldero na yan dapat nilagay sa budget ng kalderong pangkain! Idagdag niyo na lng sana sa food budget ng atleta. O di kaya para sa training. #supportourathletes
— gretchen malalad (@gretchenmalalad) November 18, 2019
Prior to joining the broadcasting industry, Gretchen was a three-time South East Asian Games gold medalist for Taekwondo. She won gold medals in 2001, 2003 and 2005 SEA Games for the 60 kg Individual Kumite and Open Weight Individual Kumite competitions. Malalad was also was a bronze medalist in Karate at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
Overall, Gretchen won 20 gold medals at different international competitions in Asia, Europe, and the US prior to her retirement as a national athlete in 2007.
Meanwhile, known DDS blogger Mocha Uson refuted Malalad’s claim. Uson said Gretchen misled people about the SEA Games and directed her to her video interview with sports official Eugene Torre.
https://www.facebook.com/Mochablogger/photos/a.10150517244941522/10158004019701522/?type=3&theater
Aside from Malalad, singer-actress and known Duterte critic Agot Isidro also slammed the overpriced SEAG cauldron.
Million and more reasons for everyone to not want to pay our taxes.
Sa gaguhan na ganito napupunta ang buwis natin.Game ka pa ba, Pilipinas?
Million-dollar SEAG cauldron https://t.co/5hWAhdPIFd via @Philstar.com
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) November 18, 2019
The 2019 SEAG cauldron is currently at the center of controversy for allegedly being overpriced.
Senate Minority leader Frank Drilon, during the budget hearing of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, questioned the propriety of the 50 million-peso cauldron which according to him could be used for other government projects like school buildings.
House Speaker and PHISGOC official Alan Peter Cayetano, however. defended the cauldron saying more than a cauldron, it is an art piece and a monument, a symbol that can be a source of national pride.
