SPORTS development must be high on the list of the Marcos administration’s priorities as our two top officials have been rooting for new sports achievements from our athletes — and promising to support the athletes well for them to reach this goal.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. shared his time with the competing athletes during the send-off program for Team Philippines at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City Monday, April 24.
“If this administration can do anything more to support your chosen events, you please make sure to tell me. Because we are all rooting for you to be successful,” Marcos said.
The Chief Executive also advised the country’s representative contestants in the various sports events to keep in mind that in everything they do, they should hear and get inspiration from the cheers of their fellow Filipinos. “The hopes, dreams and aspirations of our countrymen ride with you,” he said.
‘At last year’s edition in Hanoi in Vietnam, the country went home with 52 gold, 70 silver, and 105 bronze medals to finish fourth overall… Bachmann promised they will do better this year in the biennial meet.’
The Philippines will send 905 athletes and 257 officials to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia slated from May 5 to 17, where they will compete in 38 sports events.
Similar messages of support came from those who joined the President at the send-off ceremonies, among them Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports; Richard Bachmann, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission; and Bambol Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
At last year’s edition in Hanoi in Vietnam, the country went home with 52 gold, 70 silver, and 105 bronze medals to finish fourth overall. A total of 656 athletes competed in 38 sports events in that edition. Bachmann promised they will do better this year in the biennial meet.
Meanwhile, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte inaugurated the Oriental Mindoro Sports Complex in Naujan town last April 25. Duterte said education and sports are “deeply connected in ensuring that children are protected from forces that hamper their pursuit of better lives and future.”
For the youth in Oriental Mindoro and elsewhere in the country, the VP imparted her thoughts on winning and losing, thus: “Winning becomes the fire that ignites the desire to win more games. In defeat, on the other hand, athletes are taught to harness their inner strength and maturity to persevere, work harder, and pick themselves up when they fall — and stand with a strong resolve to once again fight, and fight to win.”
This message has universal application, as effectively relayed to the school children of Mindoro as to the Cambodia-bound national athletes competing in the SE Games.
