Tinuldukan na ng Pinay gymnast na si Levi Jung-Ruivivar ang maraming tanong ng fans kung bakit wala siya sa ginanap na Heroes’ Grand Homecoming Parade para sa mga atletang Pilipinong lumaban sa Paris Olympics 2024.
Noong August 14, 2024, naganap ang engrandeng pagsalubong para kina two-time Paris Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio at Aira Villegas.
Present din ang iba pang Filipino Olympians gaya nina EJ Obiena, John Cabang Tolentino, Elreen Ando, Kiyomi Watanabe, Samantha Catantan, Joanie Delgaco, Kayla Sanchez, Jarod Hatch, John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno, Eumir Marcial, Hergie Bacyadan, at Carlo Paalam.
Tumuloy ang mga atletang Pinoy sa Malacañang para sa isang welcome dinner na pinangunahan nina President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at First Lady Liza Marcos.
Hindi namataan sa dinner ang mga gymnast na sina Levi, Emma Malabuyo, at Aleah Finnegan.
Maging ang Pinay golfers na sina Dottie Ardina at Bianca Pagdanganan.
Read: Dottie Ardina breaks silence on Paris Olympics uniform issue
Malaki itong katanungan sa marami lalo na't kasama naman sa grand homecoming ang mga kagaya nina Levi, Emma, Aleah, Dottie, at Bianca na hindi nakapag-uwi ng medalya para sa Pilipinas.
LEVI JUNG-RUIVIVAR SPEAKS UP
Para matuldukan na ang mga haka-haka at espekulasyon, minarapat ni Levi na basagin ang kanyang pananahimik sa pamamagitan ng pagpu-post sa Instagram nitong Lunes, August 19.
Dito ay sinabi niyang hindi siya inabisuhan tungkol sa parada gayong hinahangad pa naman daw niyang makadalo.
Pagbabahagi pa ni Levi, bago mangyari ang Heroes' Grand Homecoming ay may nakapagsabi na sa kanya sa mangyayaring pagsalubong sa mga atleta na pangungunahan mismo ng Presidente.
Agad daw niyang tinanong ang Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president na si Cynthia Carrion kung kasama siya mga imbitado.
Ngunit ayon umano kay Cynthia, ang mga atletang nakakuha lang daw ng medalya ang inimbitahan ng Presidente sa Malacañang.
Bilang patunay, ipinost pa ni Levi ang naging pag-uusap nila ni Cynthia sa WhatsApp.
Mababasa sa pahayag ng Pinay gymnast (published as is): "I truly wish from the bottom of my heart that I could have attended and been part of this event, but unfortunately I was never informed that I was invited or presented with the opportunity to go.
"I heard from a member of the Olympic delegation that some sort of event was taking place in Manila to meet the President.
"On august 7th I sent a WhatsApp text message to my NSA head (see next slide) stating that I had heard that there was an upcoming event to meet President BongBong Marcos and I asked what the event entailed.
"On August 8th I received a message stating that it was only for medalists, Carlos and the two bronze medalists, the boxers.
"I responded inquiring if that was in fact correct because I had heard all Olympians were invited. I never received a response or any further information. And I still haven't had any communication about it."
LEVI JUN-RUIVIVAR: "I was really hurt..."
Pag-amin ni Levi, nasaktan siya nang makitang present ang kapwa niya Olympians, gayong sila raw nina Emma at Aleah ay hindi man lang nakunsiderang anyayahan.
Katulad ng mga nakapag-uwi ng medalya sa bansa, ginawa naman daw ni Levi ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para iwagayway at irepresenta ang Pilipinas sa Paris Olympics kahit hindi pinalad magwagi.
Aniya (published as is): "The following week I was surprised when I saw all Filipino Olympians, except for me, Aleah, and Emma in Manila participating in a meeting with President BongBong Marcos and participating in a parade.
"I was really hurt considering this was a once in a lifetime opportunity I missed out on.
"I wanted to be part of the celebration with my fellow Olympians and to share in the excitement of the success of this Olympics with my country, the Philippines.
"I truly wish I could have gone considering I have sacrificed endlessly to perform for my country and to make everyone proud.
"I have no current obligations in the States, before I head to Stanford early September, there was nothing prohibiting me from attending this extraordinary event."
Sa kabila ng nangyari, nagpapasalamat pa rin si Levi sa mga natanggap niyang suporta at pagmamahal mula sa mga tagahanga.
Sa katunayan, mas excited daw siyang ipagpatuloy ang laban sa larangan ng gymnastics bitbit ang pangalan ng Pilipinas.
Saad niya, "I want to let everyone know that I am so incredibly grateful for the support, the love, and the pinoy pride.
"I am truly excited to continue competing for the Philippines, and I look forward to taking every opportunity to come to the Philippines and hopefully inspire the new generation of Filipina gymnasts that are the future."
EMMA and ALEAH'S ABSENCE DURING HEROES' GRAND HOMECOMING PARADE
Bago pa man maglabas ng pahayag si Levi ay nauna nang nagsalita sina Emma at Aleah tungkol sa hindi pag-imbita sa kanila sa homecoming parade.
Noong August 17, magkasunod na nag-reply sina Emma at Aleah sa tanong ng kani-kanilang followers sa TikTok kung bakit hindi sila nakasama.
Read: Why Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo missed homecoming activities
Depensa naman ni Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Television na si Dale de Vera, hindi sila nagkulang na sabihan ang Philippine Olympic Committee at Philippine Sports Commission na imbitahan ang mga atletang nakilahok sa Paris Olympics.
Read: Carlos Yulo surprises 11-year-old gymnast fan in Eat Bulaga!
Sabi ni de Vera: "Hindi natin masasabi na hindi na-invite, all athletes, all the Paris Olympians from the Philippines were invited to attend the ceremony at the Palace.
"Pero ayun nga po, linawin natin the invitations were coursed through the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission at hindi po siya directly to the athletes.
''We were informed that five athletes were flown directly to their next competition. Ang apat po sa kanila ay lumipad papunta sa US at 'yung isa naman ay may competition sa Scotland.
"Kasama po ang ating gymnast na si Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo doon sa mga may competition or pumunta ng US right after the Paris Olympics."
Cynthia Carrion apologizes to PINAY gymnasts
Samantala, personal na humingi ng paumanhin si Carrion kina Levi, Emma, at Aleah nang makaharap niya ang mga ito nitong August 19.
Pagdepensa ni Cynthia, last minute ang pagbabago ng homecoming parade kaya't hindi na niya nasabihan ang tatlong gymnasts.
Ganunpaman, proud na proud daw si Cynthia sa mga ito dahil sa pagrerepresenta nila sa bansa.
Mensahe niya kina Levi, Emma, at Aleah: "I'm sorry, we didn't get advice. You should have joined all our events.
"Had I known, of course, I'd be so proud of them being with me. Not only one, but four [Carlos Yulo]."
Taliwas ito sa naunang pahayag ni Carrion sa isang interview na wala sina Aleah at Emma sa heroes' welcome dahil wala ang mga ito sa Pilipinas.
Sabi ni Carrion, “They’re lying because they were not in the Philippines.”