WEARING the chef de mission’s hat, William Ramirez’s call to Team Philippines to the 30th Southeast Asian Games was common and simple—but piercing: Unity!
And the response from representatives from 57 national sports associations (NSAs) reverberated at the Philippine International Convention Center Agoncillo Hall before noon on Tuesday: Yes we will! We Win As One!
Ramirez, the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), called for a Team Philippines meeting for the first time since he was named chief of mission to the SEA Games not only to guarantee unity among sports leaders, but as importantly to assess their progress toward the November 30 to December 11 event.
“I’d like to hear the national anthem to be played 120 times,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas, whose target exceeds the 112 mints the country won in 2005.
Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea’s deputy, Atty. Kim Raissa Uy, guaranteed Ramirez the full support he needed in championing the team to the Games.
“There are many faces of winning but we must aim for No. 1!” Ramirez declared.
Cayetano, like everyone else in the room, was on the same page.
“I share the call of the PSC and POC and most importantly the President [Duterte], to unify and win as one,” he said.
Ramirez also led an assessment workshop where NSA heads gave updates on their teams’ progress. PSC Commissioners Celia Kiram, Charles Maxey, Ramon Fernandez and Arnold Agustin facilitated the workshop by addressing their respective clusters.
Ramirez, meanwhile, reiterated that the government hasn’t been remised of its support to Rio Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who, through social media, sought financial support for her 2020 Tokyo Olympics campaign.
“The government has been very supportive [of Diaz], “ said Ramirez, adding that Diaz receives one of the highest allowances among members of the national pool.
The PSC, Ramirez stressed, rarely turns down any of Diaz’s request for her training and qualification for the Tokyo Games.
For this year alone, Ramirez said the PSC has given Diaz close to P4.5 million to fund her training in Hainan and Guangxi in China, as well as the salary for her foreign coach, Julius Kaiwen Gao.
A new weightlifting gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex was constructed by the PSC upon Diaz’s request.
“Hidilyn receives support from the PSC and the Philippine Air Force being an enlisted personnel,” Ramirez clarified.
For her Olympic silver, Diaz also receives support from private companies like the MVP Foundation, and Alcantara and Sons.
Image credits: Roy Domingo