GMA lauds Pacman, other RP heroes

The closing minutes of President Arroyo’s one-hour State of the Nation Address yesterday focused on the Filipinos’ triumph in the world of sports.

At the Batasang Pambansa, together with the nation’s top leaders, were great sports achievers like Leo Oracion and Erwin Emata, and dozens of SEA Games gold medalists.

Then, of course, there was Manny Pacquiao, the celebrated boxer who looked so splendid in a barong. He was seated beside Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

It was the first time in her six SONAs that President Arroyo cited and gave much importance to achievements in sports. A 15-second ovation greeted each name she mentioned.

"We are a great people," the President, radiant in red, said in priming up her line for sports.

"We’ve scaled the heights of Mt. Everest," she continued as the cameras focused on Oracion and Emata who came with Art Valdez, team leader of the RP Mt. Everest Expedition.

Oracion and Emata, who became the first Filipinos to reach the summit of Mt. Everest last May, received a thunderous applause from the gallery. Romy Garduce, who also scaled Mt. Everest, was not around.

"We have dominated the Southeast Asian Games," the President then said, training her sights at the group of RP athletes who helped the country win the overall crown in the SEA Games last December.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez accompanied the athletes.

Then came the hero of all sports heroes.

"And of course," the President said, "we punched our way to triumph in the boxing world."

"Mabuhay (long live) Manny," said the President of the 27-year-old boxer and author of one of the greatest rags-to-riches story in RP sports.

As the President paused, Pacquiao, who has conquered some of the greatest Mexican boxers in history, stood, waved and smiled at those present.

There was a 15-second round of applause for the boxer.

The President then likened the lives of the athletes to the lives of the ordinary Filipino.

"Our people compete and win everyday, in every imaginable job throughout the world," she said.

"Individually, we’ve taken on the world and won. Together we must take on the challenge of creating a new, peaceful, humane and competitive nation, and prevail."