“Crying out for respect”: SEA Games medalist’s family calls out Alubijid LGU for lack of recognition

The Philippine contingent capped off a highly successful campaign at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, delivering one of its strongest performances in recent memory and reaffirming the country’s growing stature in regional sport.

Team Philippines collected an impressive 277 medals—50 gold, 73 silver, and 154 bronze—to place sixth overall in the medal standings. The tally underscored the depth, versatility, and competitiveness of Filipino athletes across a wide range of disciplines.

From established strongholds to emerging sports, the national team consistently rose to the occasion, displaying exceptional skill, resilience, and determination on the Southeast Asian stage. Their collective achievement reflected months—if not years—of preparation and sacrifice, while also highlighting the steady progress of Philippine sports development amid increasingly intense regional competition.

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Among those who brought pride to the country was Lianne Abellanosa Pama, a native of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, and a member of the women’s 4×100-meter relay team that clinched the bronze medal.

However, even as Pama celebrated success on the track, her family expressed disappointment over what they described as a lack of recognition from their hometown. Her older sister, Mariel Arnel Pama, took to social media to call out the Alubijid local government unit (LGU) and the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, noting the absence of acknowledgment or local incentives for Lianne’s achievement.

𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗧, 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗦! 🇵🇭

Buong puso nating binibigyang-pugay ang ating mga atletang Pilipino sa pagtatapos ng 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗘𝗔 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 sa Thailand.

Sa bawat laban, ipinakita ninyo ang tapang, disiplina, at pusong Pilipino—lumalaban… pic.twitter.com/rjvo8yIYVl

— Bam Aquino (@bamaquino) December 21, 2025

Pama compared the situation to other provinces and cities that have publicly honored and rewarded their SEA Games medalists with motorcades, plaques, and financial incentives.

“As many of you know, Lianne is a national athlete. Every time she competes abroad, our hearts swell with pride seeing our kinamanghuran carry the Philippine flag. But what makes us even prouder is that she never forgets where she came from. In every interview and awarding ceremony, she carries the names of the places that raised her: Alubijid and Misamis Oriental,” Mariel Arnel wrote.

She emphasized that their appeal was not about financial gain, but about acknowledgment.

“It’s not about the money. Lianne is well-supported by the Philippine team and her school. We are not begging for a paycheck. But we are crying out for respect – a simple acknowledgment, a gesture of appreciation, or even a ‘well done’ from her own leaders,” she added.

The post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of shares and drawing widespread attention on social media—attention that is likely to reach local officials in Alubijid and Misamis Oriental.

At the national level, recognition has already been extended. Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally honored the country’s SEA Games medalists and distributed cash incentives in accordance with Republic Act 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act. Under the law, athletes receive P300,000 for a gold medal, P150,000 for silver, and P60,000 for bronze. The Office of the President also announced that these amounts would be doubled for each medalist, while every athlete who represented the country at the SEA Games received an additional P10,000.

Still, national incentives are separate from the cash rewards and recognition programs traditionally granted by local government units—gestures that, for many athletes, symbolize hometown pride as much as financial support.

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