Philippine Showbiz Today
August 22 - September 7, 2017
A victory for the Philippines
A commitment had been
made and whatever the cost, it
had to be kept. Thus was what the
decision to push through with the
hosting of the 30th episode of the
Southeast Asian Games meant.
There is war in Mindanao. In the
Muslim City of Marawi.
Until when it will last and
whatever the outcome will be
won’t matter.
The flame of unity and
solidarity that has been burning
for the past 58 years, first when it
was still known as the Southeast
Asia Peninsular Games, will
continue to provide the light in all
sporting arenas of the 11-nation
conclave never to be extinguished
by any form of calamity, natural of
man made.
Saving the Games from going
into temporary hibernation is in
itself a victory for the Philippines
which in agreeing to be the site
of the Games’ 30thcoming, thus,
becoming the only fifth country
to come to the rescue when
he Games were threatened of
extinction is, in itself, already a
victory.
Malaysia wet into the Games’
rich history as the first to volunteer
to celebrate the Games out of its
turn when, in 1965, Laos begged
off due to financial constraints.
Two years later in 1967, Thailand
followed Malaysia’s face-saving
gesture in lieu of Cambodia, also
due to financial woes.
Vietnam, likewise, was unable
to host the biennial competitions
in 1969 and Malaysia, for the
second time, saved the Games.
Brunei was to hold the 1983
edition under the traditional
Boxing
rotation basis but couldn’t due
to its preparations for its coming
Independence Day celebration.
Singapore did the honor.
And it’s the Philippines’ turn to
play the role as saviour when the
SEA Gamee Federation offered
the hosting in place, again, of
Brunei.
Philippine
Olympic
Committee
president
Jose
“Peping” Cojuangco accepted the
offer without any inkling that war
will erupt in Marawi.
The war broke out and DU30,
perhaps having no one to give him
advice but his factotums in the
Palace by the Pasig river, withdrew
the government’s support he
had earlier given to Cojuangco
advancing the war as reason,
saying further that the funding
to be spent in hosting could well
be used for the rehabilitation of
Marawi.
Came former senator now
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Allan
Peter Cayetano whom Cojuangco
and Philippine Sports Commission
chair William “Butch” Ramirez
approached to intercede in the
hope of saving the hosting and
the Game Itself.
Last Friday, two days before
the opening ceremony of he
29th edition of the biennial meet
in Kuala Lumpur, the Philippines
took it first victory without athletes
having to flex their muscles.
Members of the Southeast
Asian
Games
Federation
Council, all representating the
11-nation conclave were one
in congratulating and profusely
thanking Cojuangco following the
POC president’s announcement
that the country, after all, is
honouring its commitment to
hold the Games this shore for he
fourth time.
“As I have said when Sec.
Cayetano announced President’s
change of heart, tht I vicory
alsready for the Philippines, “
Cojuangco told The Manila Times
in a long distance telephone
interview Saurday, a day after
the council meeting. “A victory
for Philippine sports, Philippine
for diplomacy and international
public relations.”
“Kung anuman ang mga
masasamang istoryang lumalabas
tungkol sa ating bansa dahil
sa mga negatibong nangyayari
sa atin, nabura lahat yun.
Naramdaman ko yun with the way
they grip my hands congratulaing
me. Some even gave me a hug,”
he exclaimed.
“Lalong
lumakas
atd
gumanda ang relasyon natin,
not only in the Southeast Asian
nations, but the entire International
Olympic Committee family,” he
added. “Matagal ka na sa sports
at alam mo na naman na kapag
may problema at nakatulong ka
na maresolba ito, napakalaking
23
SPORTS
bagay noon. Napakalaki ang
magiging pagtingin sa iyo ng
lahat ng bansa.”
“Kaya ng malaki ang
pasasalamat
ko
kay
Sec.
Cayetano at kay Presidente
Rodrigo Duterte mismo sa tulong
nila na mapanatili ng Pilipinas
at ng sambayanang Pilipino ang
paggalang at paniniwala sa ating
kakayahang harapin ang anumang
problemang ating kinakaharap at
mapatagumpayan ang mga iyon,”
he stressed.
Cojuangco, likewise, said The
SEAGF Council welcome the idea
of holding ghe Games outside of
Metro Manila , possible, Central
Luzon (Subic in Zambales, Clark
in Pampanga and Bocaue in
Bulacan) instead of Mindanao,
which he had earlier broached.
“The CouncI, in sum, was
very appreciative to our decision
to push through with our hosting,
the POC top honcho noted. “Other
members offered to lend us their
hands to whatever problems we
expect to encounter. Of course,
yung iba naman sabi kayang kaya
natin,” Cojuangco said.●
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confi