The Go Pilipinas Go movement takes off today, with a mission not only to help drumbeat the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian games, but more importantly, magnify unity among sports officials.
No less than Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez, Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chief All Peter Cayetano, Team Philippines chef de mission Monsour Del Rosario, Para Games chief Mike Barredo and Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino are expected to attend the festive event. Tolentino will represent POC president Ricky Vargas, who will not be able to attend due to an official trip abroad.
This event aims to jumpstart the Philippine’s enormous task of hosting the regional multi-sport event set Nov. 30–Dec. 11.
In attendance are the national athletes, who will be given tributes and joy through musical performances by well-known bands, and inspirational messages by all-time sports heroes like bowing legend Bong Coo, Olympic boxing silver medalist Onyok Velasco and Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
The top sports officials are perceived to have lack the chemistry and harmony in getting their act together to ensure the successful hosting, and of course, give Team Pilipinas, a lofty finish in the biennial meet.
This is the best time now for top sports honchos to show to athletes, and the general public, that they can unite for country’s sake, and leave their personal interests behind. They will be given a white dove each and will be asked to release them in the air, all at once.
It would be the most significant image in the most opportune time—with them all smiles, sincerely agreeing to get their roles done.
After all, the POC, PSC and Phisgoc have all erased doubts about the country pushing through with the hosting of the Games.
“Unang-una, matutuloy ang SEA Games. Nakakahiya naman tayo kung di natin gagawin ito (SEA Games),” said Vargas during a recent POC General Assembly meeting.
Calling an end to disharmony, Vargas said: “Let’s all work together and move forward.”
Ramirez earlier said that “there’s no way we’re turning back.”
“We have to work together. The only solution is to proceed and dispel all doubts. Matutuloy ito (SEA Games),” assured Ramirez, who has given his all-out support to the Go Pilipinas Go movement.
Cayetano also came out with a statement saying that “all preparations for the 30th South East Asian games are in full swing.”
“Despite the budget cuts and various challenges confronting the Philippine hosting of the 30th SEA games, we are unfazed and determined to make this successful. We are determined to pursue our task and responsibility which was given to us by President Rodrigo Duterte last year,” he said.
There seems to an air of animosity prevailing among sports leaders and they have to prove otherwise. Maybe, they just need to talk and discuss among themselves—something which they have not done yet.
This would be the first time that these sports officials are doing this act of peace and unity together. We just hope this would spur better things to come for Philippine sports.
Parang-awa niyo na. Para sa bayan.
