UMAASA si Presidente Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. sa matagumpay na kampanya ng Filipino para-athletes sa 11th ASEAN Para Games sa Surakarta, Indonesia.
“Siguro naman mapapantayan Ninyo ang mga success stories ng mga ibang atleta na lumaban sa mga international games kagaya nito,” wika ni Marcos sa isang videotaped inspirational message na inilabas ng Philippine Sports Commission para sa mga atleta ng bansa noong nakaraang Biyernes. https://web.facebook.com.
Tinukoy niya ang tagumpay ng Filipino athletes sa international play tulad ni karateka Junna Tsukii, na nakopo ang ikalawang gold medal ng bansa sa The World Games na ginanap sa Birmingham, Alabama at ang pagkopo ng mga Pinay ng AFF Women’s Championship trophy sa unang pagkakataon sa harap ng hometown crowd sa Rizal Memorial Stadium noong Hulyo.
Ang pinakahuling tagumpay ay nagmula kay pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, na nagwagi ng bronze medal sa World Athletics Championships sa Eugene, Oregon na may bagong Asian at national record na 5.94 meters, noong nakaraang linggo.
“Good luck sa inyong lahat at ako’y nakakasiguro na pasisikatin ninyong muli ang Pilipinas,” sabi ni Marcos sa pagpapahayag ng kanyang kumpiyansa na magtatagumpay ang national para-athletes sa 11-nation sportsfest.
Nagpasalamat si Philippine Paralympic Committee chair Mike Barredo sa pagpapakita ng suporta ni
Presidente Marcos sa para athletes ng bansa na senyales, aniya, na hindi sila nakaligtaan ng sports-conscious President sa pagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa sa ASEAN Para Games.
“We would like to salute President Bongbong Marcos for his short yet inspiring message for our national para-athletes vying in the ASEAN Para Games, which is actually the first major international multisport event we are taking part in under his administration,” ani Barredo.
“Surely his message will drive our athletes to strive harder in doing their best in bringing back honors to our country,” sabi ni Barredo, at idinagdag na hindi magiging posible ang paglahok ng bansa sa meet kung hindi dahil sa suporta ni dating PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.
“During the time of Chairman Butch, our para-athletes and the Paralympic program have enjoyed unprecedented support,” he said, citing the bubble training of over a month the athletes had at the Philsports Complex funded by the PSC in the build-up to the Games. He (Ramirez) has proven to be a leader of absolute competence, honesty and integrity that has resulted in many successes for our athletes, highlighted by Hidilyn Diaz winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics,” ayon kay Barredo.
“Chairman Butch’s track record speaks for itself and perhaps President Bongbong Marcos might consider re-appointing him as the head of the PSC so that our successes and victories in future international competitions will be sustained and continued,” dagdag pa niya.