Arroyo wishes RP bets all the best

Updated 11:27pm (Mla time) Aug 05, 2004
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A25 of the August 6, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


"I AM praying for your success, and wish you all the best."

Huddled with seven of the 16 athletes bound for the Athens Olympics, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whispered those words of encouragement during yesterday's courtesy call by the Philippine team in Malacañang.

The President said she's confident the athletes will give it their best shot during the Aug. 13-29 Olympiad. The other members of the lean contingent will fly straight to Greece from countries where they are currently training.

Present during the send-off were Thsomlee Go, Donald Geisler and Ma. Antoinette Rivero of taekwondo, Jethro Dionisio of shooting, Timmy Chua of swimming, Jasmin Figueroa of archery and Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito of track and field.

The other members of the delegation are boxers Chris Camat, Harry Tañamor, Violito Payla and Romeo Brin, swimmers Miguel Molina, Miguel Mendoza, J.B. Walsh and Jaclyn Pangilinan, and marathon man Eduardo Buenavista.

The affair lasted for 5 minutes and the Chief Executive wasted no time underscoring the importance of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, which will be held in the country.

"This is the next thing we have to attend to," said Ms Arroyo referring to the country's third hosting of the Games. "After the Olympics, we have to start moving to ensure the SEA Games' success."

The President has also ordered Tourism Secretary Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan to represent her in Athens and gain pointers for next year's SEAG where he is the chair of the organizing committee.

Pagdanganan said he would also promote during the Olympics the tourism program of the country, which expects some five million foreign visitors from now until the SEA Games in November next year.

"President Arroyo wants to let the Filipino athletes know that they will not be alone during the competition. The President and the whole nation will be at the sidelines rooting for them," said Pagdanganan, who will be the highest government official in the Philippine delegation.

I hope that the country could win at least 1 medal .

The 10 million to the first Filipino gold medalist is alot of money

i think our best bet, as usual, is with the boxers!

Do you think we could make it?

in 1964 Tokyo Olympic was very controversial.

^^ since the boxers are amateur, I have not realy heard if they are any good or not. For some reason, Filipino boxers matures later and they realy shine in the pros rather than in the amateurs. I know Brian Vilaoria, a fil-am, got cheated in the Atlanta games, but he still won silver. He represented the US of course.

Who was his opponet back then?
Do you know this guy personally?

I'm sure dalwapo will appreciate this.

No I don't know him personally, but he is undefeated right now at 15-0 and his nickname is "The Hawaiian Punch"

It was one of the classic dagdag bawas in the score!

It was almost the same story of 1964 when a Filipino boxer was awarded a silver medal despite a knockdown to his Russian opponent.

DELETE

No ,Japan was supposed to host the event in 1940 but was cancelled , in 1964 , Japan was the first Asian country to host the event!