Thank you very much to the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman, Chairman Richard Bachmann      for your kind introduction.

Also with us here are --- is the head of the Philippine Olympic Committee, the President of Philippine Olympic Committee, President Abraham Tolentino; I have --- I see also over there is the --- ang ating mga kongresista na mga sportsman din na siyang tumutulong sa ating mga atleta. Senator Bong Go is here and Congressman Richard is also here, both of whom have been avid supporters of our athletes; Now, most importantly, our beloved athletes who are now going to represent the Philippines; my fellow workers in government, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. [applause]  

It is with great pride and good deal of pleasure that I welcome all our distinguished athletes, trainers, coaches, the rest of the Philippine Delegation as you prepare to compete, to aim for the wins 
in the forthcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games 
or the SEA Games.

One of the greatest pleasures I have found, being the leader, is to be able to give honor and to recognize, hopefully to inspire, and to provide support to our athletes, who are in fact our ambassadors in sport and play a very, very important part beyond just their participation in such important sporting events. 

I have found that --- I think everybody here will agree that sport is one of the very few activities --- iilan lang talaga ang puwede nating sabihin na ating ginagawa na walang downside. 

The only downside to sport is sometimes you get injured. ‘Yun lang. Everything else is good for you. It’s good for your discipline. It’s good for your health. It’s good for your camaraderie. It’s good to mature young people. 

And that is why it has to be kept as a very, very important part of our support to our society. And beyond that, ang ating mga champion, ang ating mga nag-uuwi ng medalya at saka tropeo ay talaga namang nagdadala ng kasiyahan at naipagmamalaki ng buong madla na kami ay Pilipino. ‘Yang mga ‘yan Pilipino ‘yan, mga champion namin ‘yan at ‘yan ang siguro ang pinakamahalaga na dinadala --- nagdadala kayo ng dangal sa Pilipinas. 

Tingnan na lang ninyo. Lahat ng mga champion natin that have gone out onto the international stage that have made a name for themself and all they have done is bring glory to the Philippines.

Many of our great athletes who have made their name in the international stage have brought with them the Philippines and the honor that they have gained by their sacrifice, by their perseverance and finally by their success is also be given to the Philippines itself and every single Filipino feels it. 

And that’s why, I would like at this point, to those, for those who have always been in the sporting arena and have managed to make a name for themselves, and put the Philippines on the athletic map, I thank you all very much for the honor and the glory that you bring to our country. [applause]

Ngayon ay --- ngayon papunta kayo at --- sa susunod na SEA Games and we can see that everyone is --- seems to be ready. I’ve been watching some of the reports about the different sports. 

Lahat naman tayo ay sumusubok na gawin. Lalong-lalo na na tayo ay palabas sa pandemya. Mahirap mag-ensayo kapag naka-lockdown. Pero pinagpilitan pa rin ng ating mga atleta kaya naman hanggang ngayon ay nanalo pa.

At ngayon ay, hindi naman --- ‘yung mga iba ngayon napupunta sa Cambodia ay hindi pa nag-champion, magiging champion pa lang. [applause] Kaya ‘yun ang ating mga --- kayo ang inaasahan. The hopes and the dreams and the aspirations of our countrymen for the Philippines ride with you.

Alam naman ninyo. Kahit nandoon kayo sa Phnom Penh, kahit nasa Cambodia kayo ay maririnig niyo. Basta makinig kayo nang mabuti, maririnig niyo ‘yung sigaw namin to encourage you.

Kung puwede lang talaga --- kayo na ‘yung kakargahin namin para manalo kayo doon sa --- para manalo kayo doon sa sport ninyo. 

Kaya ganun ang --- ganun ang… You have 107 million na kakampi na walang ginawa kung hindi  magdasal na maging successful sa inyo, walang ginawa kung hindi isipin kung papaano kayo panalunin, kung papaano kayo tulungan, kung papaano kayong palakasin.

And that is the tradition that you have brought. That sportsmen have brought to the Philippines by making their name abroad. And again, it is for me an extreme pleasure, and for me to see all of you. 

I know all of you athletes, not only the athletes, but the trainers, the coaches, lahat ng support na dinadala para magkaroon tayo ng mga champion na atleta, ay alam ko lahat kayo ay pinaghihirapan ninyo ang training ninyo, ang training ng mga atleta, ang pag-aalaga sa kanila, at siguro naman ay mabibigyan naman tayo ng sukli ng kaunting medalya at kaunting tropeo. 

At siguro baka malampasan natin ang ating mga naging record sa nakaraan at ‘yun naman talaga ang ating inaasahan.

So once again, it is my great, great pleasure to be able to be with you just very quickly. Pinilit kong makapunta rito dahil gusto kong makilala ‘yung mga champion. 

Kagaya ng sinabi ni Mayor, sabi niya, ako naging sport --- lahat na sinubukan ko. Nag-football ako, nag-squash ako, nag-shooting ako, nag-archery pa ako, nag-fencing pa ako. Hindi ako nag-champion. Kaya gusto kong makilala ‘yung champion, kung ano ba ‘yung pakiramdam na ‘yan.

But I think it is all to the good. And once again, if this administration, this government can do anything more to support our athletes, to support sports in our country, to support the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Commission who I understand are still squatting in the environs of the CCP. 

Kailangan natin siguro --- mahirap naman ang dami nating pinapagawa sa inyo na hindi --- wala kayo man lang sarili ninyong opisina.

But anyway, if there is anything more that this government can do, that this administration can do, that I personally can do, you please  make sure you will tell me because we are all rooting for you. 

And we all want to do everything that we can do to make you as successful as you possibly can in your chosen events.

So good luck sa inyo. At huwag niyong kakalimutan kapag talagang napagod na, nahirapan na, na-injure na nang kaunti, pakinggan niyo ulit ‘yung sigaw, maririnig niyo kami ‘yun, ‘yung mga kapwa niyo Pinoy, sinisigaw: Go! Go! Go! Go!

Maraming salamat. Good afternoon.

--- END ---

Watch here: Send-off ceremony for the Philippine Delegation to the 32nd SEA Games

Location: Reception Hall, Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex in Pasay City