By Prince Golez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised to step up government support for national athletes to help them reach their full potential.
Marcos Jr. made the statement on Wednesday when he met the Philippine women’s national football team during a courtesy call in Malacañang.
The Filipinas won the country’s first Asean Football Federation Women’s Football championship by dominating the Thailand, 3-0, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium over the weekend.
“We have to do better in terms of government support when it comes to our athletes,” the President said.
“Medyo nabawasan nung nawala ‘yung sports sa eskuwelahan, when DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) became Department of Education alone, the emphasis on sport became a little bit less,” he added.
Sport is more than “just a game,” Marcos Jr. said. “It means developing discipline, learning how to sacrifice, learning to be gracious in victory, learning to work with other people as a team.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive said Filipinas’ feat brought great joy to their countrymen and made them proud to be Filipino.
The win, he also said, “is the greatest gift that you have given your country.”
“So I thank you very much, and I congratulate you for this great achievement and great championship,” said Marcos Jr.
