The Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave a “Special Presidential Award” to Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala after she reached her career-high world ranking at No. 54.
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On October 9, 2025, a Facebook page named “Tennis Together” with about 25,000 followers posted (now deleted) a viral claim stating:
The post, which has since become unavailable, generated more than 508 reactions, 63 comments, and 10 shares as of October 21. Many commenters congratulated Eala for this supposed honor. However, upon verification, there is no evidence that President Marcos gave Eala any “Special Presidential Award.”
Official Statements and Verified Posts
While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously praised Alexandra Eala for her tennis accomplishments, there is no official record or announcement confirming that any form of “Special Presidential Award” has been given to her.
On September 7, 2025, following Eala’s historic WTA singles title win, Marcos congratulated her via a post on his official Facebook page:
Earlier, on August 25, 2025, after Eala’s first-round victory at the 2025 US Open, the President again posted a message of congratulations that read:
The same message was also published as a news release by the Presidential Communications Office on its official website.
About the Special Presidential Award
According to the official government portal for Presidential Awards, presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph, the Philippines honors outstanding Filipinos through distinctions such as the Presidential Medal of Merit and other state awards, which recognize exceptional contributions that bring prestige and honor to the country.
Examples of recent recipients include:
- Carlos Yulo, who received the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his gold medal wins at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The award was confirmed by official Presidential Communications Office coverage and media reports.
- Hidilyn Diaz was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit by former President Rodrigo Duterte after her Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal victory — a recognition also detailed by the Presidential Communications Office.
No such official record, citation, or government press release mentions Alexandra Eala as a recipient of any comparable state honor.
Our Rating: FALSE
The claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted a “Special Presidential Award” to Alexandra Eala is false. No official record, press release, or announcement from the Presidential Communications Office or the Presidential Awards body supports this claim.
While President Marcos has publicly congratulated Eala for her historic achievements and expressed national pride in her success, there is no evidence that any “Special Presidential Award” was bestowed upon her. The viral Facebook post from “Tennis Together” therefore spreads an unfounded and inaccurate claim.
Our Fact-Checking Sources
- Viral Facebook Page “Tennis Together” post on Alexandra Eala’s award claim, October 9, 2025: Facebook
- President Marcos’ congratulatory Facebook post on Alexandra Eala’s WTA singles title win, September 7, 2025: Facebook
- Alexandra Eala’s Facebook profile mentioned in Marcos’ post: Facebook Alex Eala
- President Marcos’ Facebook post congratulating Eala on her 2025 US Open first-round victory, August 25, 2025: Presidential Communications Office News Release
- Official government portal for Presidential Awards in the Philippines: presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph
- Carlos Yulo’s Presidential Medal of Merit award coverage, GMA Network report: GMA Network
- Presidential Communications Office news on Filipino Olympians honored: PCO News Release
- Philippine Information Agency press release on Hidilyn Diaz award: PIA
- Presidential Communications Office statement on Hidilyn Diaz’s additional rewards: PCO News Release
- Alexandra Eala’s updated WTA official player profile and statistics: WTA Official