Press Release - Transcript of Sen. Pia Cayetano's Co-sponsorship Speech Recognizing Filipino Olympians

Today, I rise to co-sponsor our resolution to honor our Olympians.

I was actually in Cebu going back to the Senate the day that Caloy won. And I delivered a speech to mayors and I was talking to them about their sustainability plans, their long-term plans for their constituents, their towns. And I said to them, maniwala kayo, walang makakaalala sa atin. Ang maaalala nila si Carlos Yulo.

Because that is the truth, Mr. President. When you achieve such a significant accomplishment like Carlos Yulo has, people will remember your name.

And I'd like to of course also give special recognition to Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, our other medalists, and also include our fourth placers, EJ Obiena and Bianca Pagdanganan. I read a study that said... that silver medalists tend to be not as happy as third placers. Kasi the third placers are happy that umabot sila sa third place, and they will take home the medal. The second placers focus on not being able to get the first place.

So, I also want to acknowledge the fourth placers because that is how close they were to bringing home a medal. And it does not diminish in any way the work, the effort, the dedication, the years they have put in. Many times, winning a medal is already beyond one's control, it is really beyond one's ability to deliver on that particular day. And that is where I would also like to give, and I will repeat this part of my speech when we are with the athletes, to the Senate body, led by our former Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, now Secretary Sonny Angara, our former Senate President Migz Zubiri, because we really funded our national athletes, and I have to say this because national athletes, Olympians, are not born overnight. And not even in the last four years since their last Olympic attempt, or in their last Asian Games qualifiers. It takes years, decades, practically their whole life. And so what we have attempted to do is to really fund grassroots programs and competitions for our athletes that have that opportunity to excel beyond the school-based programs, beyond the Palarong Pambansa, and outside of our country.

When our athletes are here next week, we will join our colleagues in