Cayetano, my biggest SEA Games hero

By Al S. Mendoza

THE challenge was daunting, yes.

But we didn’t only survive it.

We passed it with flying colors.

That was the essence of our victory in the just-concluded 30th SEA Games held on home soil.

The test was actually two-pronged.

One, we host a successful Games.

Two, we win the overall championship.

 They weren’t chicken feed.  Tough as nails.

One, how could you handle a foreign invasion numbering more than 10,000 officials and athletes from 10 countries without encountering glitches?

Two, how could our athletes rise up to the challenge of deflecting every thrust and blow unleashed by their foes?

We weren’t perfect.

We couldn’t perfect everything.

And so, the kinks would quickly appear as the Games was barely starting.

Visiting athletes were made to wait hours at the airport for their fetchers to arrive.

Hotels, not used to bulk arrivals, were thrown in disarray in accommodating bunches of foreign competitors.

Food servings and menus were hit as inadequate and lacking in nutrients.

But then, not to worry.

Almost immediately, the curves were straightened out—thanks mainly to the quick response mechanism under the baton of Alan Peter Cayetano, the youthful House Speaker who is the overall chairman of the Phisgoc (Philippine Southeast Again Games Organizing Committee).

Cayetano whipped into line the hotel owners to shape up or be shipped out.

They responded quick, well, positively, that is.

In no time, the issue was fixed. 

Food concerns?

Almost in an instant—like instant coffee or noodles if you will—Cayetano dispatched a slew of chefs in many strategic spots of the Games’ venues.

Not even a whimper was heard since from our delegates, including our halal-conscious delegations.

So efficiently handled were the early wrinkles that even days before the Games ended, heaps of praise were rained on our hotel handlers, shuttle bus operators and, yes, our kitchen warriors.

In short, the gripes turned to crates of applause for our countrymen tasked to ensure the smooth operation of the Games.

Now as to our athletes performing way beyond expectations to key our overall victory, there is one shining reason for that:  the overwhelming support of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through its chairman Butch Ramirez.

To its ultimate credit, the PSC, as the government’s arm to look after the well-being of our athletes, undertook its sworn duty to finance our training for the Games to the hilt, including sending our warriors overseas for massive training.

The almost P1.5 billion PSC had spent last year for our athletes’ preparation had definitely keyed our definitive performance, resulting in the spectacular winning record margin of 51 gold medals over runner-up Vietnam.

Through it all, I particularly admire Cayetano’s speech during the closing ceremonies:

“To all our critics who kept saying we couldn’t succeed in the Games, itaga ninyo ito sa bato:  Peace be with you!”

Amid the serious accusations against Cayetano, no iota of rancor ever pierced his heart.  For that, he is the Games’ biggest hero.

That’s my kind of leader.

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