First Gent gives RP campaign big boost

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is back in the swing of things.

In his first public appearance since returning from his "voluntary exile," the newest godfather of Philippine sports yesterday egged on the RP athletes to give it their best in the forthcoming SEA Games.

To the delight of many, the First Gentleman graced the consultative meeting between top officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the different national sports associations.

"Even when I was abroad, I was always thinking of you.

The NSAs and the national athletes were always on my mind." he told his audience at the Dragon Gate restaurant along Roxas Blvd.

"And now I was told that we can win 120 gold medals.

This is a challenge for our athletes. I wonder if they can do that. But I really think they can because I can see that you’re all very happy," he added.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and POC president Jose Cojuangco attended the meeting.

The chef de mission of the RP delegation, the First Gentleman, who went to the US last August to avoid further criticisms from the opposition, was in a jolly mood.

"I invited the PCGG (Presidential Commission on Good Government) to be here. My friends, those who will fail will be sequestered by the PCGG. So you better produce the golds," he said.

That brought the house down.

"Warning na ‘yan ha. Pag hindi naka-gold, sequestered. That’s just a joke. Please don’t take it seriously.

Mahirap na. May mediamen pa dito," added the First Gentleman.

He assured the Filipino athletes that his support will go on as long as it takes, even after the SEA Games scheduled Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, and way past the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

"This will continue because we’re really looking at the Olympics. That is the path that we’ve taken and I think we can get it in 2008 in Beijing. That’s what the President wants, at least one gold in Beijing," he said.

During the luncheon meeting, the officials of the 41 sports to be played in the SEA Games were given a final briefing on their requirements like the submission of their final list of entries.

Nestor Ilagan, who heads the technical committee of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, said the NSAs have only until Nov. 3 to submit their lineups by names.

Otherwise, they may encounter difficulty with their accreditation.