The job’s already well done.
For William “Butch” Ramirez, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, the delegation to the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang has already accomplished its mission with its haul of three gold medals.
“We went into the Asian Games just hoping to equal our 2014 performance,” Ramirez said. “Now, we have surpassed our goal.”
Team Philippines won golds in weightlifting through Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting and got two more in golf behind the Yuki Saso’s women’s individual victory that towed Bianca Pagdanganan and Louis Kaye Go to the team championship.
Twelve bronze medals from pencak silat (three), taekwondo (three), wushu (two), golf (one), ju-jitsu (one) and karate (one) were also thrown into the coffers, putting the Philippines at No. 19 on the medal tally just before sundown in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The Asian Games Games end on Sunday.
The success in Jakarta, Ramirez said, is not only credited to the PSC, but to all stakeholders.
“The PSC does not claim solo credit for this,” he said. “ This is a combined effort of all parties involved in ensuring that our athletes present their best form in the competitions.”
Ramirez could not help but praise all the athletes, even those who did not win a medal, who have prepared hard for the Games.
“I see our athletes everyday. They live detached from their families, train everyday and subject their bodies to punishing exertions,” he said. “As a former coach, I appreciate an athlete beyond the person we see on the mat, on the ring, on the court.”
Ramirez added: “Their journey is not easy. So while we celebrate the winners, let us also congratulate the others because whether they win or not, it is the journey that counts.”
Diaz’s gold from weightlifting was expected. But Saso and company’s accomplishment was the surprise for the Phlippine delegation.
“That was a very welcome surprise! New national athletes,” Ramirez said. “They give us hope for the future of sports in our country.”
With a 3-0-12 gold-silver-bronze tally, the Philippine stood as the sixth among Southeast Asian countries—a spot it has now been its place in the SEA Games. Indonesia continued to frolic at home as host with 24 golds at No. 4, with Thailand running eighth with nine golds, Malaysia 13th with four and Singapore 16th also with three golds but with four silvers.
Vietnam and Cambodia each have two golds at Nos. 20 and 24th, respectively. Laos is also on the board with two silver and two bronze medals and Myanmar with two bronzes.