THE Philippine Senate dedicated almost an entire session on February 4 to honor the
country’s athletes from the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Under the
sponsorship of Senator Bong Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Proposed
Senate Resolution No. 210, taking into consideration 40 others filed by almost every
senator, formally commended the Filipino delegation for winning 50 gold, 73 silver, and
154 bronze medals. This is the largest medal count by a Philippine SEA Games team.
Go stressed that athletics serves as a powerful avenue for steering young people
toward meaningful pursuits, encouraging discipline and teamwork.
Other senators echoed this sentiment. Senator Pia Cayetano drew from her own
experiences as a former national athlete and spoke passionately about the character-
building role of sports and about celebrating the tears shed and barriers broken by
Filipino athletes who competed with honor. Meanwhile, Joel Villanueva praised standout
performers like Alex Eala and 11-year-old gold medalist Mazel Alegado. Senator Jinggoy
Estrada reminded his colleagues that every athlete who competed, medalist or not,
contributed to the country’s pride on the regional stage.
Vital to these successes were the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine
Olympic Committee, whose preparation, logistical planning, medical teams, and support
systems helped ensure athletes could focus on performance. The PSC in particular,
headed by my college classmate Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, mobilized uniform distributions,
allowances, and send-offs to the 1,600-strong team.
The Senate also approved an amendment to include not only gold medalists but silver
and bronze winners in this and other official recognitions. This is definitely an inclusive
gesture that would honor the collective effort behind every victory.
One message is clear here: in moments of Filipino excellence, the Senate stands united
n pride and gratitude for the nation’s champions.
