BONGBONG MARCOS STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF ATHLETES AND GOV?T SUPPORT
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Mar 2014
Marcos.
The government must support the Filipino athletes and not persecute them.
This, in essence was Senator Ferdinand ?Bongbong? Marcos? message in his speech during the Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions Tuesday night at the Sofitel Hotel Harbour Garden Tent where the Elorde clan, headed by his widow Laura honored, for the 14th straight year, Filipino fighters who prided themselves and the country in the year that past.
The honorees included ?Boxers of the Year? Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire Jr., Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes, Johnriel Casimero and Merlito Sabillo.
?The support (of the government) should certainly be solid, substantial and significant,? the lone son of former President Ferdinand Marcos declared stressing that it?s the least the government should do in ?exchange for all the international glory and acclaim our boxers and athletes bring to our country.?
?First, the government?s presence should be positive and reassuring for our athletes,? the young Marcos said. ?Hindi yung ilang buwan bago ang isang mahalagang laban ay magfa-file ang ating gobyerno ng kaso ng tax evasion laban sa ating athleteng Pinoy na siya nga na nagbibigay sa atin ng lakas at pag-asa bilang Pilipino sa kabila ng ating hirap at dusa.?
The Ilocos Norte lawmaker was obviously referring to Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao?s experience of having to survive many distractions, including harassment from the government?s taxmen every time he fights in foreign land carrying the country?s colors.
The support from the government, Marcos said, must also be tangible and concretely felt by the Filipino boxers and athletes, starting from their training years so as to ensure that they are provided with the wherewithal to develop and maximize their full potential.
The former Ilocos Norte provincial chief executive must have also been reminded of the Philippine Sports Commission?s threat not to provide funding to the Filipino athletes? preparations for the coming 17th Asian Games unless their respective national sports associations liquidate allotments previously granted them.
?The government seems to have forgotten not only the tremendous honor given to our country, and also the enormous revenues pumped into the national economy because of the achievements of the Filipino athlete,? he observed.
?Moreover, the government seems not to understand the destructive, as well as distractive, effects of its actions to the psychological well-being of our athletes who have trained long and hard for important competitions, at which they carry not only the colors of the country but the entire weight of their compatriots? faiths and hopes on their shoulders as well,? Marcos emphasized.
Also honored during the blue-ribbon ceremonies held under the auspices of the Johnny Elorde Management International and the Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Foundation, were amateur standouts, OIympian and world Series winner Mark Anthony Barriga and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Josie Gabuco, Philippine-based international referee Bruce McTavish, and the best promoter, referee, judge, trainer; fight of the year, most promising boxer, among others.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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