Whatever the reason, Fil-American Kashus Perona, winner of the 400-meter gold in the recent National Open Track and Field Championship, has begged off from representing the Philippines in the first two legs of this year’s Asian Grand Prix, and might even miss the third and last leg in Manila July 1.
Perona, 26, based in Long Beach, California, bagged the 400-m gold by beating back-to-back SEA Games gold medalist and homegrown talent Ernie Candelario, thus earning a direct invitation from athletics chief Go Teng Kok to be part of the country’s 4x100 m relay team to the Asian GP.
The first leg of the multi-nation event offering $3,000 to the gold medalists in the 15 events chosen by the host country will be held tomorrow in Thailand while the second leg is scheduled June 28 in Sri Lanka. The final stop will be staged at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Perona, who works for telecommunications giant AT&T in California, first begged off from competing in Thailand and Sri Lanka, saying he’d be available only for the Philippine leg. But he hasn’t returned calls from Manila over the last couple of days, raising questions on his availability.
With Perona out and undecided, the Philippines decided to skip the 4 x 100 m event in Thailand and Sri Lanka, leaving only two athletes, long jump’s Lerma Bulauitan and Maristella Torres, as the country’s representatives. Eduardo Buenavista has opted to see action in a marathon event in Indonesia this week.
Perona was told that it would be best for him to compete in all three legs of the Asian GP since athletes completing all stops are the only ones entitled to claim their prize money. He was also told that it would be easier for him to reimburse his plane fare from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) if he saw action in all three legs.
After winning the gold medal in the National Open two weeks ago, Perona said he was willing to sacrifice his job in California for a slot in the national team. But his decision to skip the Asian GP has raised questions whether he was really willing to make such sacrifice.
Perona, who traces his roots in Manila, could easily earn more than a thousand dollars (or at least P56,000) a month working for AT&T, and stands to receive so much less if he decides to stay in Manila as member of the national team. preparing for next year’s SEA Games.
Class A Filipino athletes, who are gold medalists in the SEA Games, Asian Games and the different World Championships, receive P11,000 a month from the government, including the P3,000 meal allowance. A Class B athlete, in which Perona would fall, gets no more than P9,000.
Where Perona would stay once he stays in Manila will be another question. Will he be willing to join the rest of the Filipino athletes in their cramped quarters at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex? Or will he be given special treatment?
This remains to be seen.