Let the Games begin, argue later

CEBU, Philippines — I would assume that all athletes, both foreign and domestic, had checked in at their different billeting quarters and not sleeping on the floors because tomorrow evening, the 19th SEA Games opens at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.  We’ve heard and read all of the highlighted organizational mishaps that had some keyboard warriors with itchy fingers bombarding social media with their cynical attitudes.

Several had even declared on social media that because of the SEAG snafus, they’re now ashamed to be called Filipinos.  Big bloody freaking deal.  And some of these “shamed” Filipinos are the ones who had blown things out of proportion.  Ranting without even an iota of what is actually happening and not offering any solution is the new patriotism.

As per experience, no sporting event goes without some kind of problem.  From barangay leagues to school leagues to provincial meets, regional meets and to national games, mix-ups and issues always appear.  A big event like the SEAG is no exemption, not only in this edition but in prior SEAGs.

Organizers say that the opening ceremony promises to be a crowd pleaser with the parade of the 11 participating nations led of course by the Philippines who had the largest delegation composed of 1,115 athletes and 753 coaches and officials.  Tickets to the opening ceremony are reportedly priced between P1,000 to P12,000, amounts that would surely wag the tongues of the intregeros and intregeras in this part of the planet.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao was earlier reported to light the SEAG flame on the cauldron with gymnast Carlos Yulo.  Because reportedly Yulo is scheduled to compete the following day, boxer Nesthy Petecio will accompany PacMan.  To my understanding, the Games will open in Bulacan but the mahiwagang kaldero to be lighted is located at Clark, which is about 80 kilometers away.  Will somebody then say “istart, kalayo”?  Hoy, Tolendoy, is that you?

Some sectors had been critical of the billions of pesos spent for the hosting of the SEA Games that they would want to have a congressional or senate inquiry on the bloated expenses.  Expenses like the P1,600 pair of socks, the P12,000 Asics tracksuit, the designer barong and the kikiam breakfast, among others.

It will be an ill-timed idea to have our horror-rables debate and argue on the issues while the Games are ongoing.  Why?  Because we would only be showing to the 10 other Southeast Asian nations the infatuation to grandstanding our lawmakers have.  And with all the foreign news media covering the event, we could only be displaying disunity and mistrust to the world, as an interesting sidelight to the Games.

Let us enjoy the SEA Games for the moment.  Our athletes need our support, whether they can reach the absurd 220 gold medal haul fantasized by the dreamy NSA heads or not.  It’s not every year that an international sporting event comes to our islands and it’s only natural that a host country will show to its guests the best it can offer – from a newly-built world class athletics stadium and aquatics center, top rated hotels, our tourist attractions, the renowned Filipino hospitality and of course, the notoriety of Metro Manila traffic.

All the negativity give bad vibes to our athletes.  If we can halt traffic, lessen crime and be united when PacMan fights, let us try to band together for 12 days this time, cheer for our athletes and rally them to victory.   We win as one.

When the flame of the Games had been “istap”, maybe the ladies and gentlemen tasked with crafting the laws of the land can then start with their squabble on the controversial kaldero, the kawali, the takure, the baterol, the haircut of the chairman of the organizing committee or whatever they want to argue related to the billions of pesos spent on the SEAG.  Yup, in the aid of legislation. 

At the end of the day, because nothing, as usual, comes out of the inquiries, we all lose as one.