Sports commission chair thanks PH athletes

MANILA. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and Team Philippines Chef De Mission William Ramirez, seen answering questions from some Visayas and Mindanao sports media on December 9 at his office in Manila, is proud of the Filipino athletes who competed in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. (Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan)
MANILA. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and Team Philippines Chef De Mission William Ramirez, seen answering questions from some Visayas and Mindanao sports media on December 9 at his office in Manila, is proud of the Filipino athletes who competed in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. (Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan)

MANILA -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez thanked the Filipino athletes who competed and brought honor to the host country, which emerged overall champion in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that closed with another spectacular show at the New Clark City Wednesday evening, December 11.

Team Philippines Chef de Mission Ramirez, who was also the chairman and Chef De Mission when Philippines first bagged the overall championship in 2005 SEA Games, in a statement posted on the PSC Facebook page before the closing ceremonies started, said, the athletes gave their all and they deserve all the respect and care that fellow Filipinos and the nation can give them.

“You all made us proud. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo, tiyaga at pagpupursigi,” the PSC chief said.

He went on saying, “All your hard work and achievement produced more than just medals. It lifted the spirit of a nation hungry for inspiration and hope. It awakened the spirit of patriotism. Old Filipino values were in full show for the Filipino youth to see and emulate. Pinaalala nyo sa amin na ang sarap maging Pilipino, lahi ng magigiting! For all these, maraming salamat.”

In a recent interview at his office, he cited the heroic deed of Filipino surfer Roger Casogay who helped fellow competitor Arip Nurhidayat of Indonesia who was then being swept by giant waves in San Juan, La Union after breaking his ankle leash during the competition.

Casogay’s example, he said, is the true spirit of the SEA Games. “It’s not just winning gold or medals. It is about humanity.”

Indonesia President Joko Widodo, in a news.abs-cbn.com December 9 report, thanked Casogay for helping the Indon surfer.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte also met Casogay along with the national surfing team in Malacanang. The SEA Games surfing champion Casogay will be conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu on December 18 in a Palace ceremony. He and the rest of the medalists will also receive cash incentives on the same day.

Ramirez added, “It is a happy day for the Philippine Sports Commission, Team Philippines and the country as we celebrate our return to Seag supremacy. We all worked hard for this. The PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, National Sports Associations, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, the private sector and the Filipino people all came together to show our team that they have the whole nation rooting for them. Salamat po sa lahat.”

Team Philippines harvested a total of 149 gold medals, 117 silvers, and 121 bronzes in final and official medal tally Wednesday.

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