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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Pages: Pacquiao: Not rightful Olympic flag-bearer
By John Pages
Match Point
TWO weeks ago, I wrote about the Beijing Games’ speech of Fred Uytengsu, the CEO of Alaska Milk Corp. A few days back, I received an astute and sharp comment on the article from Honey Sacro (of Redlands, California)—the aunt of our Olympian, Miguel Molina. Here’s Honey...
“I laud Mr. Uytengsu on his speech. I have not read any of the negative post-Olympics articles, but I was not surprised. No offense meant, but those articles typify the Filipino attitude. It saddens me that media allowed those articles to be published.
“I have to be honest as to why I feel strongly about the issue: Miguel Molina is my nephew. I moved to Southern California when he was a sophomore at UC Berkeley. I personally know his training regimen. He would wake up everyday at 5:30 a.m. to train before his first period class; and again in the afternoon after his classes. After graduating from UC Berkeley, he moved to LA to train with the Trojans swim club at USC. Again, he was swimming the whole day, almost everyday.
“Because of his limited financial support (and, believe me, his parents support him as much as they could; so much more than most ordinary parents could even afford), there were months when he just moved to So Cal when all his personal belongings were in his car because he was staying with a friend. He couldn’t live with me because I live an hour and half from where he was training. The few weekends when he was free, he would drive to my house to wash his clothes. It took some time before he could afford his own place that he shared with another Olympian, Larsen Jensen.
“I’m not sure if many are aware of how much support these US athletes get. It broke my heart that my nephew, on top of his swimming regimen, needed to worry about money for rent and food when he was training here in the US; while his friends from the US team could focus all their energy on swimming and the Olympics.
“It is ironic that Miguel is admired here (and in Japan) more than there. Whenever I tell (well, brag to) my friends that my nephew is an Olympian, they all go crazy. They couldn’t believe that they know someone who is related to an Olympian; and a two-time Olympian at that. In fact, my teaching partner couldn’t wait for him to come back to California so we could invite him to our school and talk to our students...
“While many Filipinos only care about medals, for most Americans I’ve met, the fact that he made it to the Olympics is unbelievable. When Miguel needed to rent a car because he left his car with me, and he needed to drive to the airport to leave for the Philippines (I would be at work, so I couldn’t take him), the Avis employees even asked for his autograph! The lady said that her daughter was a swimmer, and she would like to give it to her as an inspiration... They couldn’t believe it that they were actually talking to an Olympian.
“I agree with Mr. Fred Uytengsu (and I know this issue is over) that he (Molina) was the rightful flag-bearer of the Philippine team. During the parade, the commentator here said, “He’s not an Olympian, so we don’t know why he’s the flag-bearer. Maybe because of his stature in Philippine sports.”
“I read somewhere that Arroyo was offering $340,000 for the first RP Olympic gold. I suggest that the government invest that money on potential athletes in sports that Mr. Uytengsu suggested. I also suggest that the government spend more money on the athletes instead of the officials.
“I’d like to end this comment with a question: Who is the more important person in an Olympic event: the athlete or the official?
“You see, Miguel’s parents (and many parents of the other athletes), were not able to visit the Olympic village even once because the tickets allotted for the Philippines were given to the officials. Also, Miguel Molina (and the other athletes) had no choice but to watch the basketball championship game on TV instead of live because the tickets allotted to the RP team were used by the officials.
“Pray tell me, who is the more important person?”
Sun.Star Cebu - Pages: Pacquiao: Not rightful Olympic flag-bearer
Pacquiao: Not rightful Olympic flag-bearer
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