National Team thanks PRRD for his support
“THANK you Tatay Digong! Duterte!”
More than 500 national athletes gathering for the National Team General Assembly organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, Friday joined Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez and PSC Commissioners Celia Kiram, Arnold Agustin, Charles Maxey and Ramon Fernandez in thanking President Rodrigo Duterte for his support.
In his speech, Medialdea said that he cancelled his trip to join the national athletes, “I just want to relay to you the support of our President. He is behind you para sa (laban sa) SEAG!”
Thank you President (Rodrigo)
The Executive Secretary enjoined the athletes to focus on their training and the forthcoming SEAG competitions. “Ilayo natin lahat sa mga problema ang lahat ng ating gagawin. Laro lang tayo. Let us win as one and patuloy natin itaguyod and ating bansa sa larangan ng sports.”
Ramirez welcomed the crowd, thanking Medialdea for joining the athletes that morning saying that “it means a lot to feel and see the government’s care for sports.” He added that it is the first time that a presidential executive secretary joined such an activity of the agency.
Track and field legend Elma Muros-Posadas and Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco were also present. Both encouraged athletes to give their best with MurosPosadas also reminding the athletes how lucky they are to have a president who supports sports.
“Napakapalad ninyo kasi si presidente 100% ang suporta. Huwag ninyo pansinin ang problema. Huwag niyo isipin ang gulo. Focus tayo sa laban. Andito tayo sa bansa natin kaya lalong galingan natin. Patay kung patayan. Gigil sa kalaban wag sa opisyal,” exclaimed the athletics star.
Velasco for his part highlighted the importance of discipline in the success of an athlete. He recalled his training days citing time when they would cut routes on their daily runs, pass by water source to pretend being sweaty and acting as if they ran the whole leg. “Hindi yung coach ninyo ang na-short ninyo kundi ang sarili ninyo. Makikita sa sparring kinakapos kayo. Importante ang disiplina.”
The athletes also sat through a briefing on anti-doping pointers from PHINADO head Dr. Alejandro Pineda and a short fashion show presenting the national team training uniform and official parade uniform for the SEAG designed by well-known fashion icon Francis Libiran.