Philippine Showbiz Today
August 8 - 21, 2017
23
The SEA Games
For six years during former
President Benigno “Noynoy”
Aquino III’s watch, no national
sports delegation earned the
honor of being sent off nor
welcomed by the Chief Executive.
That neglect is hoped to have
ended starting this year. Aquino’s
successor, Chief of State for one
year Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has
assured the national contingent
to the Southeast Asian Games
this coming August 19-30 of a
presidential blessing before it
leaves for Kuala Lumur, site of
the 29th edition of the biennial
conclave
Philippine
Sports
Commission chair Butch Ramirez
assured this last Saturday saying
President Duterte is set to receive
the 498-athlete strong national
contingent
either
Monday
or Tuesday in Malacanan.
“The
Presidential
Management Staff, I was told,
has approved the request made
by delegation chef de mission,
Madam Cynthia Carrion asking
an audience with the President
when the athletes and officials pay
a courtesy call on him before the
nationals fly to KL sometime next
week,” Ramirez told The Spin.ph
in a telephone interview.
“Depende
kasi
sa
him except President Benigno
Aquino III.
In all of his six years in office,
the son of late lady President
Cory Aquino, P-Noy never sent off
or welcome national contingents
or individual athletes who
represented the country in all the
international competitions held
under his watch.
These included the Asian
Games of 2010 and 2014, the
SEA Games of 2011, 2013 and
2015 and the Olympic Games
schedule ng Pangulo. But I glory and honors for themselves of 2012 and 2016. This is apart
believe it could be Monday and country,” the PSC head from at least three Wold University
Games and several individual
or Tuesday because I was told asserted.
members of our delegation will be
If and when PRRD, indeed, competitions in the Asian,
leaving Wednesday or Thursday,” meet the athletes, it will be the first Continental and world levels.
It was under P-Noy’s term
Ramirez said.
time in more than six years that a
“But what I can assure of is Chief Executive will perform such that he Philippines fashioned out
the President is definitely meeting tradition that started by President its worst seventh overall finish in
with our athletes, coaches and Quezon way back during the the 2011 SEA Games and sixth in
officials to give them inspiration Commonwealth era and observed 2013 an 2015.●
and motivation in their quest for by all Chiefs of State who followed
RIMAU, the 29th SEA Games mascot