THE Palace on Friday wished the athletes participating in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur the best of luck.
“We wish our athletes good luck,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
He also praised the athletes who had won the initial medals for the country.
“They have begun bringing honor to the country with three medals as of yesterday: a silver and two bronze medals,” Abella said.
“We congratulate the Philippine team for Sepak Takraw for winning the first silver medal from this season’s Southeast Asian Games. We also extend our congratulations to our archers for the two bronze medals.”
The 29th edition of the biennial games, which are scheduled from Aug. 19 to 30, has 404 events in 38 featured sports.
Abella said the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by the Philippines in 2019 would not go unfunded, but officials had yet to identify the possible funding sources for the event.
“It will not be an unfunded project,” Abella told reporters quoting Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
“I don’t know how he’s gonna do it, but I believe that if we approved it, I’m assuming there will be funds for that.”
He asked all concerned agencies “to give their full support and cooperation in preparing the country’s hosting of the biennial event.
“Together, let us show the world our Filipino bayanihan spirit,” Abella said.