Bacolod welcomes athletes, officials

BACOLOD CITY — Close to 15,000 Negrenses witnessed the soft opening of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games yesterday as the football capital of the Philippines welcomed guests from 11 countries through songs and dances depicting the cultural heritage of Negrenses at the Panaad Park and Sports Complex here.

Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, urged the public to consider the biennial games as an opportuntity to show other countries how united Filipinos can be.

"This is our chance to show, not only the 11 countries participating, but the other countries around the world as well what a real Filipino is," Cojuangco said. "The country has been through a lot of political turmoil, and the SEA Games is the right occasion to demonstrate how united we can be."

"Masyado na tayong naagrabyado, ipakita natin sa kanila kung ano klase tayo," he added.

Cojuangco expressed his appreciation for Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella’s initiative to convince the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee to host some of the games in Bacolod.

He said the kind of reception it generated in the city would definitely arouse interests in other areas that are also hosting some the games.

The opening ceremonies featured the Kabataang Silay Performing Arts and Rondalla Ensemble, Teatro Amorseco, MassKara Dancers, Bacgo City Bamboo Instrumentalists, Negros Drum beaters and the USLS Pep Squad, among others.

The crowd cheered as Philippine sprinter Rogelia Ferrer-Pell led the torch run and the symbolic lighting of the sacred flame.

The 68-year-old US-based Negrense won a silver medal in the 1954 Asian Games held in the country and the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo.