Show of unity

There’s something about the Filipino that is amazing. It’s his ability to get the job done under extreme pressure.

That’s why I was never bothered by talk that time was running out on organizers of the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which the country is hosting late this year. The Filipino always rises to the occasion in the "last two minutes" and beats the deadline. Call it the "manana" mentality, putting off what you can do today to tomorrow. Call it the "fourth quarter" storm, reserving your best for the final push down the stretch. Whatever it is, the Filipino can and in the context of the SEA Games, the Filipino will.

The press launch of the SEA Games at the Dragon Gate Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard yesterday proved my contention.

Creative genius and advertising guru Pete Cura had only a few days to conceptualize the launch with Boy Santiago and Rico Meneses. Then, director Juno Obanda mobilized his gang of blue-collar workers to assemble the sets, produce the audio-visuals, write the continuity script and plan a program over the weekend.

Juno had two days to fix up. And for two days, Juno and his gang worked their butts off. I’m not sure if they slept the last few days. My guess is they stayed awake. They’ll sleep well tonight because the launch was a huge success.

That kind of last-minute work is what the Filipino is known for.

Of course, it’s better to finish your work with plenty of time to spare but sometimes, the clock works against you and you’re forced to do a job under severe time pressure.

I suspect the idea of staging a press launch was hatched after that much-publicized Senate hearing last week when Sen. Richard Gordon wondered why there was little "noise" about the SEA Games.

If Sen. Gordon had any fears before, he has none now. He attended yesterday’s launch with a slew of sports bigwigs and got special mention from the First Gentleman Attorney Mike Arroyo who dubbed him the country’s No. 1 cheerleader.

The First Gentleman was in high spirits yesterday. He had reason to be. In his message, Attorney Mike spoke about the country’s significant gains in the economy and the peace and order situation. He cited the robust over six percent growth in the economy, the strengthening of the peso which breached the P54:$1 barrier the other day and the rubout of the Abu Sayyaf escapees as indicators of better times ahead.

And yes, Attorney Mike predicted Manny Pacquiao to win over Erik Morales this weekend and the Philippines capturing the overall championship in the SEA Games.

The First Gentleman recounted how he and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. agreed to join forces in getting the SEA Games show on the road during a game of golf.

Attorney Mike said they shook hands on the division of labor — he would take care of mobilizing resources — funding, in particular, while Cojuangco would take care of the training and preparation of the athletes for the competitions. At the onset, the First Gentleman said he thought he had the harder job but now, he realizes Cojuangco’s work is "a lot more complicated."

Yesterday’s launch wasn’t only a show of force. It was also a show of unity.

National Sports Association (NSA) presidents came to pledge their support to the SEA Games effort. Also present were Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Rep. Renato Unico who is the Congressional Chairman of the Youth and Sports Development Committee, party list Rep. Florencio Noel who was a SEA Games volunteer in 1991, Chairman of the National Youth Commission Bambam Aquino, former First Lady Amelita Ramos, Undersecretary of Tourism Cynthia Carreon, Rep. Monico Punetevella, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officer-in-charge Butch Ramirez, International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde, PSC commissioners Leon Montemayor, Ambrosio de Luna and Joey Mundo, Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) chairman Robert Pagdanganan, Philsoc secretary-general Steve Hontiveros and deputy Jun-Jun Capistrano, POC media bureau chief Joey Romasanta, Undersecretary Ricardo Alfonso of the Deparmtnet of Transportation and Communications and Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. chairman Ephraim Genuino.

The venues for the 41 sports and 395 events were announced. The list was as of last March 5 and it’s still a work in progress.

Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino showed up and was acknowledged when it was mentioned that his city would host the cycling road race, practical shooting and chess events.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia was also at the launch and vowed his all-out support as his city is hosting boxing, men’s football, volleyball and weightlifting.

Allaying fears that the information systems wouldn’t be set up on time, the organizers assured the audience of the installation in 41 venues.

"The General Information System integrates all the necessary information pertaining to the Games," the organizers said. "Months prior to the SEA Games, the system will have the capability to process, integrate and manage the information relating to the registration of teams, billeting of athletes and officials, volunteer network, support crew and services and the website."

Three TV stations are conspiring to air the SEA Games during the 10-day schedule, using at least 10 OB vans and 10 ENG units. The opening rites will be held at the Quirino Grandstand simulcast live over the three participating networks — the National Broadcasting Network NBN-4, the Radio Philippine Network RPN-9 and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Network IBC-13.

"For many of us, this is no longer just about medals and winning," said Cojuangco. "It’s about showcasing the best of the Filipino."Pagdanganan said, "in these times of austerity, we draw sustenance from our creativity as a people and our strength from our sense of cooperation with one another."

"Let us work as one, unite and win together for our people and Motherland," called out Ramirez.

In a stirring climax to the launch, the First Gentleman, Cojuangco, Pagdanganan and Ramirez placed the seals of their organizations onto a common frame, like fitting pieces in a puzzle, then pulled on cords to drop the curtains to reveal the SEA Games logo and mascot. The theme song "We’re All Just One" composed by Jose Mari Chan with lyrics by Rene Nieva rang out loud in the speaker system as confetti fell to close the rousing launch.