Philippine Showbiz Today pstVol12No15 | Page 23

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