PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, in his keynote speech at the Binirayan Sports Complex, San Jose de Buenavista in Antique Sunday, told athletes of the 60th Palarong Pambansa 2017 to seize the moment as his government has poured in the biggest allocation of funds to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Next to education, he cited agriculture and health as among the departments that have bigger funds.
"Sa inyong mga bata, this moment belongs to you. Sa inyo ito eh. One, you must be by now have the sense of responsibility," Duterte said, adding that the youth are the future fathers and mothers, thus, he urged them to build competitiveness, values and sense of goodwill in their Palaro stints.
He also encouraged the athletes of the 18 competing regions to make friends from other cities and provinces as they flex the spirit of building their muscles, stamina and physical being.
Duterte, speaking to some 15,000 delegates, local spectators and guests, also said that aside from instilling discipline, sports is not just physical but also mental and builds somebody's desire to win.
He also qouted a song, "Tatanda at lilipas din ako. It's my sacred duty to transfer to the youth the values which we hold dearly."
He then congratulated DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao and the mayors of different local government units (LGUs) of the province for hosting the Palaro.
Briones, who introduced the President, said: "The 2017 Palaro is truly special, Mr. President as it is the 60th anniversary and part of the history of the country. We are celebrating the Palaro at a time when we start Grade 12 of the Senior High School this June. We thank you for your support to the Senior High School program."
Senator Loren Legarda, a native of Antique, also thanked the president for gracing the opening ceremonies.
"Pinataba po ninyo ang mga puso ng Antiqueno," Legarda said as she also cited Duterte's spending family day with the rest of the Palaro delegates and bringing with him his family, wife Honeylet and daughter Victoria.
Legarda, meanwhile, urged athletes to "hold fast" to their dreams and to "dream big".
Cadiao, for her part, was touched that President Duterte visited their province, noting that it's been a long time that a president had been to their place.
"Ikinaggagalak namin ang iyong pagdating sa aming maliit na probinsya. Salamat sa inyong programa to bring development to the countryside through sports," Cadiao said.
Be-medaled trackster Elma Muros-Posadas lighted the cauldron of the Palaro that was also graced by the Philippine Sports Commission Board - chairman William "Butch" Ramirez and commissioners Charles Raymond A. Maxey, Ramon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram. Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go was also in attendance.