MANILA, Philippines — Philippine chef de mission Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla is overwhelmed by the Olympic aspirations of the country’s 22 athletes who are in Paris and viewing the competitions up close, realizes how they could inspire a nation to reach unprecedented heights.
Remulla, 56, is in his first Olympics and joined 17 others, including 12 athletes, in representing the Philippines at the fluvial parade on the River Seine to kick off the Paris Games last week. The honorary Philippine Rowing Association chairman described the experience of participating in the opening ceremony as “amazing” and said, “I realized how all our athletes prepared over half of their lives to reach this point (and) I hope it inspires the whole country that even a few committed people can change the way a country thinks.”
As chef de mission, Remulla is in charge of making sure the delegation is secure, properly attended to and looked after. Each of the 22 athletes wearing the national colors has an inspiring story to tell from humble beginnings to how their Olympic dream came true.
In Paris, Remulla said even the bad days are good. “The weather was horrible, the athletes were scrambling for the parade, the Olympic Village is over a hundred hectares big and the Philippine contingent is billeted at the back end,” he said. “All that is nothing for our athletes compared to their personal goals and the chance to represent our country.”
Remulla said what made his heart swell even more was the presence of overseas Filipinos cheering the delegation during the Seine parade. “Pockets of the Philippine community organized themselves and started jumping in jubilation in seeing the delegation,” he said. “It made me realize that you can take them out of the Philippines but you can’t take the Philippines out of them. They were so proud to see our athletes and the athletes, in turn, were so proud to see the support.”