’91 SEAG heroes hold reunion

With the battlecry: "We missed it by one (in 1991), now it’s your turn!", preparations are underway for the holding of the grand reunion of the heroes of the "Miracle of ’91" set in September, 15 months before the Southeast Asian Games return to the country.

Two of the most prominent figures in the local sports scene during the 1991 Manila Sea Games recently discussed the holding of the week-long grand reunion-cum-morale-boosting kick-off event to jumpstart the Philippines’ campaign in the 23rd edition of the SEA Games set Nov. 20—30, 2005.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain, a decade after winning six swimming gold medals and Best Male Athlete Award of the 1991 Games, met with former PSC boss Cecilio Hechanova, who was vice chairman of the Manila Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (MANSOC), also to consult and share thoughts on how the country hosted the biennial sports conclave with resounding success.

Hechanova said "the key to the success of the country’s hosting of the ‘91 SEA Games is the government-private sector partnership, unity in the local sports community, and resolve of sports leaders to lead national athletes to the country’s unprecedented second overall finish by winning 91 gold medals."

"Moreover, the PSC then was able to secure the original computation of the remittance of five percent gross income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. per RA 6847 or the Act creating the PSC," he added. "That was one of the biggest boosts to our preparations for the country’s hosting of the Sea Games."

According to Hechanova, the MANSOC, which was manned by top government officials and headed by former Trade Secretary Peter Garrucho, handled the organization, infrastructure, marketing and preparation of athletes, while the Philippine Olympic Committee under then president Jose Sering took charge of the technical aspect of the games.

The organizing PSC is looking at a week-long fiesta of sorts, drumming up support and awareness for the 2005 Sea Games. There will be concerts and entertainment, fun competitions, exhibits, parties, cheering and pep rallies not only for the athletes, but also for all Filipinos who will showcase in the region their capability not only to host the biennial games, but to dominate it.

"All my fellow athletes who fought in 1991 find in our hearts a big responsibility and obligation in 2005," said Buhain. "We will always be behind all Filipino athletes, supporting them, and boosting their morale."

The heroes of ‘91 will be bannered by Lydia de Vega-Mercado and Elma Muros of athletics, Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo of bowling, swimming’s Akiko Thomson, boxing’s Mansueto Velasco Jr., John Baylon of judo, shooting’s Nathaniel "Tac’ Padilla, Felix Barrientos of lawn tennis, and taekwondo’s Beah Lucero.

Aside from the Œ91 heroes, also expected to grace the event are officials of the MANSOC headed by Garrucho, Hechanova and former heads of other involved government agencies, together with the leaders of various national sports associations.

Sponsors of the Œ91 Sea Games led by National Panasonic, Fuji Film, IBM Philippines, Coca Cola, Milo, San Miguel Corp, PLDT, Petron, Duty Free Phils, FedEx, Nestle Phils., Mikasa, Philippine Airlines, NBN-4 and Pioneer Insurance are also expected to be well-represented during the week-long festivities.