GMA txt: Congrats to all

HANOI, Vietnam (Via Globe Telecom) — President Gloria Arroyo Friday sent a short congratulatory message to the Philippine contingent following two gold-medal finishes that placed the Philippines temporarily at second overall at the start of the 22nd Southeast Asian Games here and Ho Chi Minh City.

"Congrats to all and love to all," was the text message received by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who relayed the Presidential message during a breakfast meeting with journalists at the Melia Hotel where he has been billeted during his two-day stay here.

"The President is very happy about the results on the first day," said the First Gentleman. "I came here as her representative and I report to her personally on how the athletes are doing."

The First Gentleman had to cut short his morning press conference to catch the next flight to Ho Chi Minh where he is also to watch games played in various venues there. Among the games ongoing in the southern border are basketball, billiards and snooker, boxing, chess, judo and taekwondo.

"I’m happy they responded to the training we gave them for the Games," said Arroyo, referring to the special training elite members of the 44-member athletic delegation went through in preparation for the Hanoi Games.

He said he was touched by expression of frustration of the water polo players who failed in their bid to salvage in the sport after losing to Thailand, 7-9, at the close of competitions Friday.

"Kung makikita mong umiiyak (ang mga lalaki), parang napapaiyak ka rin," he said.

He also congratulated the women archers, who also wept, in sheer joy after winning the gold in the women’s team.

"This is all about national pride. This brings about the nationalistic fervor in every Filipino, that’s why the President sent me here as her representative. She wants to concentrate on sport because it is a means of unifying our people."

"Our fellow Filipinos at home will be very proud for every gold we win and they will be closely watching us here in Vietnam and many of our friends there are praying for our success," he added.

Arroyo said he is asking Filipino supporters back home to send in their messages via text to players who may be their friends or relatives or simply idols.

"Puwede nilang i-text ang messages nila, malaking bagay ito," he said.

The training of elite athletes was funded by corporate sponsors who donated cash during a pledging session initiated by Arroyo at Malacañang to boost the chances of those who had gold medal potentials.

The sponsors were led by San Miguel Corp., which donated P10M of the P22.4 M total donations, and Samsung.