AS EXPECTED, regardless of his age, 77-year-old President Rodrigo R. Duterte didn't mind standing for over an hour when he feted his valiant national athletes at Malacañang for bringing home 52 gold medals, 70 silvers, and 105 bronzes as Team Philippines finished fourth overall in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
He has been doing that since he started his term in 2016, recognizing the efforts of Filipino athletes by welcoming them to the Palace, sending them off, awarding them with cash incentives, and giving them morale-boosting messages.
PRRD awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kamagi to some medalists who were not recipients of the citation during the incentives ceremony for the 30th SEA Games that was also held at the Palace in 2019, shook their hands, and even started brief conversations with them.
The Kamagi Medal is awarded to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals who actively participated in and contributed to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
Just like a doting parent, he found ways to connect with his "children" - the athletes.
Tennis team bronze medalist Shaira Hope Rivera of Davao shared that when she received the Order of Lapu-Lapu from the President, he noticed the color of her dyed hair and told her he wanted to dye his hair with the same color.
He also shared light moments with double gold medalist Rubilen Amit and other athletes whom he met for the first time.
Seeing him award the SEA Games medalists, even doubling their cash incentives, and talk casually with them, the last time he'll be able to do so before he ends his term on June 30, saddens not just most, if not all, the athletes who have never been prouder to represent the country because they have the full backing of their government.
“Please know that I really recognize all the tedious preparations you have made to perform your best in this regional sports competition. Just like a father to every Filipino, I am very proud of you, I wish you all a good life para sa ginawa ninyo sa bayan. I would like to say to all of you, maraming, maraming salamat," the President said during his speech.
The President, without a doubt, has always given value to what the national athletes and their coaches do for the country. He's vocal about his appreciation for them and also generous in recognizing their feats and efforts.
He will surely be missed.
The administration of President-Elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sure has a large shoe to fill as far as sports in the Philippines is concerned. But we are hopeful that he will continue the legacy that PRRD has started.
With Vice-President Elect Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio as the next Education Secretary, we believe that grassroots sports will also be strengthened with the help of the new Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Board and other sports stakeholders.
The outgoing PSC leadership, headed by PSC Chair William "Butch" Ramirez, has already established a strong partnership with DepEd, which spearheads city, provincial, regional, and Palarong Pambansa competitions. The PSC, too, was at the forefront of the country's international sports success in the past six years with the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Praying that the next PSC Board will also have the welfare of the athletes at the heart of what they do. May God give our incoming president the wisdom to appoint the right persons in the PSC.
Congratulations again to our 31st SEA Games medalists!