Fil-Norwegian figure skater takes final slot in medal round

By Balitang America Staff, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

By Feb. 19, 2014

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – It’s on to the next round for another Filipino figure skater who’s making history for Norway in the women’s event.

Filipina-Norwegian Anne Line Gjersem scored 48.56 in the women’s short program, putting her in 24th place and qualifying her for the last spot in tomorrow’s free skate medal round.

The 20-year-old Norwegian champion is the first figure skater from Norway to reach the Olympics in 50 years.

Meanwhile, more honors for the Philippines’history-making figure skater Michael Christian Martinez.

Martinez’ hometown of Muntinlupa City has passed a resolution honoring his feat as the first south East Asian Olympic figure skater.

The city will also award him Php100,000.

The House of Representatives is also pushing several legislations to recognize the 17-year-old who finished 19th overall during his Olympic competition.

One of those who filed was the fighting congressman Manny Pacquiao, who commended the skater as a positive example.

In the meantime, Malacanang Palace has explained that emails from Martinez’ mother Maria Theresa asking for financial help may have been filtered into the spam email box.

Other ABS-CBN correspondents also admit that emails from Martinez’s mother have also found their way into their spam boxes.