Surakarta, Indonesia—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is looking forward to a fruitful campaign of Filipino para-athletes competing in the 11th ASEAN Para Games here.
“Siguro naman mapapantayan ninyo ang mga success stories ng mga ibang atleta na lumaban sa mga international games kagaya nito,” Marcos said in a videotaped inspirational message released by the Philippine Sports Commission addressed to the country’s campaigners last Friday.
He cited the successes of Filipino athletes in international play such as karateka Junna Tsukii, who won the country’s second gold medal in The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and the Filipinas capturing the AFF Women’s Championship trophy for the first time in front of a hometown crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in July.
The most recent triumph came from pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who bagged a bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon with a new Asian and national record of 5.94 meters, last week.
“Good luck sa inyong lahat at ako’y nakakasiguro na pasisikatin ninyong muli ang Pilipinas,” said Marcos in expressing his confidence that the national para-athletes would deliver and bring home the bacon from the 11-nation sportsfest.
Philippine Paralympic Committee chief Mike Barredo was grateful to President Marcos’ show of support for the country’s para-athletes in a sign that the sports-conscious President had not overlooked them in bringing pride and glory to the country during the ASEAN Para Games.
“We would like to salute President Bongbong Marcos for his short yet inspiring message for our national para-athletes vying in the ASEAN Para Games, which is actually the first major international multisport event we are taking part in under his administration,” Barredo noted.
“Surely his message will drive our athletes to strive harder in doing their best in bringing back honors to our country,” Barredo said, adding that the country’s participation in the meet would not be possible without the full support of former PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
“During the time of Chairman Butch, our para-athletes and the Paralympic program have enjoyed unprecedented support,” he said, citing the bubble training of over a month the athletes had at the Philsports Complex funded by the PSC in the build-up to the Games. He (Ramirez) has proven to be a leader of absolute competence, honesty and integrity that has resulted in many successes for our athletes, highlighted by Hidilyn
Diaz winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics,” Barredo said.
“Chairman Butch’s track record speaks for itself and perhaps President Bongbong Marcos might consider re-appointing him as the head of the PSC so that our successes and victories in future international competitions will be sustained and continued,” he said.