Pumaren to fellow solons: Let’s support our athletes

MANILA, Philippines — As the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia came to a close, House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City (Third District) Rep. Franz Pumaren batted for greater support for Filipino athletes trying to bring honor to the country in the international arena.

Pumaren, part of the Philippine basketball team that won the gold medal in the 1985 Asian Basketball Championship in Kuala Lumpur, called on his fellow legislators to provide extra help to members of the national pool in various sports.

“I would like to encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to sponsor their local athletes as they will also motivate the others around them. I fervently hope that they will do so as public servants,” Pumaren said.

The former La Salle Green Archer and 10-time champion in the PBA commended the Filipino athletes who vied in Cambodia and brought home 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals for fifth place overall in the biennial event.

Pumaren and some members of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development traveled to Cambodia to personally watch some of the action.

While in Cambodia, Pumaren realized that the Filipino athletes, fully funded by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Richard Bachmann, could still use additional support regarding their basic needs.

“We, the members of Congress, should make a collective effort to raise the budget of the Philippine Sports Commission and its attached agencies. If we cannot raise their budget, then maybe I can encourage my fellow legislators to sponsor an athlete once a year,” Pumaren said.

Pumaren stressed that lack of funds should not discourage Filipino athletes from pursuing their dreams to win the gold medal here and abroad.

“Let us give our athletes more reason to fight for our country because they are fighting for us,” added the former national athlete who is looking forward to this year’s Asian Games in China and next year’s Olympics in Paris.