My Christmas wish

The Christmas season can be better enjoyed if you are fit enough for all the celebrations, the walks around the mall, waking up early for the dawn masses, and having to drive a few kilometers through very heavy traffic.

If you are not well enough physically it really is difficult to get through the holidays. It is even worse if you are not financially healthy.

But all of these of course are just superficial, because the real meaning of Christmas is not in the parties, the gifts, the greetings, nor the wonderful sights.

The real Christmas is in the hearts of the people, who are celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While we can’t help but spend a little to give to the people we love and those who matter in our lives, let us not forget the real reason for the celebration.

* * *

The Philippines finished fifth overall in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos with a total haul of 38 gold, 35 silvers and 50 bronze medals.

The country sent only a delegation of 251 athletes competing in 23 events, which makes this year’s haul so much better per capita compared to that in 2007 in Thailand.

In the 24th edition of the biennial sports meet, the country sent a total of 620 athletes competing in 43 events to finish sixth in the standings with a total haul of 41 gold, 91 silvers and 96 bronze medals.

In terms of expenditures, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has reported that it has saved P80 million in Laos as it spent only P50 million compared to the P130 million spent in Thailand.

Of course, aside from the very lean delegation, the PSC also spent only for 153 athletes while the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) spent for the other delegates.

The Laos SEA Games may not have been that attractive to draw many ‘officials,’ who are there not for sports, but as tourists.

We’ve seen many of them in previous editions of the regional sports meet and we hope that this will become the country’s standard for future competitions.

I don’t mean about the number or medals that will be won or the placing in the overall standings, but the prudence in the selection of delegates.

PSC Chairman Harry Angping has announced that the P80 million saved from the Laos SEA Games will be spent to develop a pool of elite athletes for the Asian Games in China next year.

With the coming elections and with the expected changes in the leadership of many sports organizations, we can only hope for the best.

This Christmas, I wish that our country will find true sports leaders, who will have real programs that would bring us victories in the international stage.

It sounds like asking too much, but I believe that sometimes dreams do come true.

* * *

MILESTONES: Happy birthday to Dr. Sheila Jorgio, who turns a year older today.

Belated greetings go to Mimi Alazas, who celebrated last Monday and to Michelle Ysmael, who turned a year older yesterday.

More power to all of you!