All about national pride

At the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games press launch the other day, the First Gentleman Attorney Mike Arroyo confessed that he envied the Vietnamese people who effused unflinching national pride when their athletes took to the field of competition at the last staging of the biennial 11-nation conclave in the former war-torn French colony two years ago.

It was as if the Vietnamese athletes couldn’t lose because they just wouldn’t let their countrymen down. Sure enough, Vietnam emerged the overall champion in the medal stakes at the end of the meet.

When Vietnam won a football match, the country was at a standstill because the entire populace celebrated, he recalled. And when a Vietnamese track athlete won, he was mobbed by his countrymen who ran towards him, waving the flag proudly.

Those were the images that Attorney Mike painted before a packed audience as he challenged the National Sports Association presidents to do their job in motivating, training and inspiring their athletes to victory in the coming SEA Games.

The First Gentleman said he’s convinced the same fervor and spirit will bring glory to the country as host of the Games from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.

No less than Attorney Mike has been at the forefront of galvanizing unity among the fractious sectors of Philippine sports. He has also taken the cudgels of generating the much-needed funds to make sure the Games are staged without a hitch.

Organizers said the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) has so far been assured of P640 Million, tapping purely into the local market. The amount is broken down into P300 Million from government and P340 Million from the private sector.

An initial estimate of local marketing revenues is P1.2 Billion. The revenues will be generated from the run-up to the coverage of the Games. Among the pre-competition activities are a torch run in key cities, a traveling caravan to feature a cheerdancing contest, bazaar, activity booths, sports clinics, thematic games, concert and party in all playing venues and tours in malls, schools and bars. Non-traditional campaigns will be in the form of text and I. T. based promotions, blimps and dirigibles, plasma screens and posters, mobile advertising, promotional activities, below-the-line activities, graffiti wall and licensing rights. During the Games, there will be thematic billboards, thematic TV messages, a weekly TV program, a sports review show, in-venue merchandising, in-venue sales promotions, concession rights, TV spots and premiums, and TV and radio promotions.

"Everything is set in so far as the level and quality of our preparations are concerned," said Philsoc chairman Roberto Pagdanganan. "It is admirable to see everyone doing his share to bring out the best in the true Filipino spirit of volunteerism. The Games shall be our opportunity to showcase Filipino volunteerism in this national undertaking. Bayanihan shall be the heart and soul of the Games."

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said 15,000 young volunteers are now registered for all kinds of work before, during and after the Games.

"Just as the bayanihan spirit saw many Filipino communities through hard times and great challenge, so will the bayani in all of us see us through the challenge of hosting the SEA Games," said Cojuangco.

"For many of us, this is no longer just about medals and winning. It is about showcasing the best of the Filipino. Our smiles, our hospitality, our values, our unity, our capability, our stability as a nation, our culture and tradition, our sense of family and togetherness and our oneness with our Southeast Asian neighbors."

The clarion call to unite is embodied in Jose Mari Chan’s composition "We’re All Just One," the 23rd SEA Games theme song with lyrics by Rene Nieva.

Here are the words of the song: "Southeast Asia’s, Where we’re from, We’re brothers all, We’re all just one.

"We have come, From near and far, We’ve come to play.

"On your mark, Get set, ready and go, Run like the wind, Fly like the sparrow.

"See the whistle, Hear it blow, Fight like a tiger, Like there’s no tomorrow.

"Give it all you’ve got, But play it fair and square, Fight with all your might, But win or lose, We’ll still remain, The best of friends.

"Southeast Asia’s, Where we’re from, We’re brothers all, We’re all just one.

"We have come, From near and far, We’ve come to play, And play all the way, We’ve come to play, And play all the way.

"Come see our country, See in all its beauty, Meet our friendly people, And enjoy.

"Southeast Asia’s, Where we’re from, We’re brothers all, We’re all just one.

"We all have come, From near and far, We’ve come to play, And play all the way.

"We’ve come to play, And play all the way."

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