Kuala Lumpur SEA Games: Nothing is impossible
POC president Peping Cojuangco, chef de mission Cynthia Carrion and PSC chairman Butch Ramirez lead the ceremonial send off party for the Philippine team to the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. JUN MENDOZA
MANILA, Philippines - The greatest names in Philippine sports were mentioned last night during the formal sendoff for the athletes who will represent the country in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
From Olympic medalists Teofilo Yldefonso, Jose Villanueva, Miguel White, Mansueto Velasco and Hidilyn Diaz to Lydia de Vega, Paeng Nepomuceno, Efren Reyes, Gabriel Elorde and Manny Pacquiao.
“These are our greatest athletes,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez as he tried to rally the bulk of the close to 500 athletes and 200 coaches who will vie in Kuala Lumpur from Aug. 19 to 31.
Ramirez spoke on behalf of President Duterte, who couldn’t make it to the sendoff.
“You are the very few and privileged, from among the 100 million Filipinos, who are being given the chance to fight for flag and country,” Ramirez said in front of the athletes that packed the Golden Pavilion of CITEM-DTI along Roxas Boulevard.
The PSC chairman spoke of “integrity, humanity and morality” in egging the athletes to give their best against their counterparts from 10 other Southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines will fight its way up the medal standings in this SEA Games, from the sixth place in Singapore two years ago to any higher rung this year.
“I salute you with honor and respect,” Ramirez added.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco got up the stage to deliver his own message, and talked about the Filipino athlete earning the respect of their counterparts as far more important that winning the medals.
Cojuangco said anywhere he goes, it’s always the respect earned by the Filipino athlete that makes him proud as president of the POC.
“The respect they have for the Filipino athlete is imcomparable,” said Cojuangco.
“The fighting heart and the fighting spirit is always there. The Filipino athlete will never stop fighting,” said Cojuangco.
Chef-de-mission Cynthia Carrion, who had predicted as many as 50 gold medals for the Filipinos in Kuala Lumpur, delivered her own pitch, a very short one.
“Nothing is impossible,” she said.
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