PHNO-SB: BAD COUGH GARBLED NOY SPEECH AT PALARO

BAD COUGH GARBLED NOY SPEECH AT
PALARO
LINGAYEN,
PANGASINAN, MAY
18, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By
Eva Visperas (PHOTO -President Aquino coughs as he addresses the crowd during
the opening of the Palarong Pambansa in Lingayen, Pangasinan last week. JONJON VICENCIO)
A bad cough repeatedly interrupted President Aquino's speech during the
opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2012 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic
Center here.
About 30,000 athletes and delegates are taking part in this year's biggest
sports competition.
In his speech, the President said the national government would continue to
support Philippine sports, adding the Department of Education (DepEd) has
allocated more than P200 million for this year's Palaro.
But as he continued with his message, Aquino coughed for a moment, prompting
him to joke that it's time for him to join the athletes' practice sessions to
improve his health.
He then continued with his speech but for the third time, Aquino almost
choked due to incessant cough.
He again joked that perhaps someone special was thinking of him, eliciting
laughter from the crowd.
The President was elated with the warm welcome given to him by thousands of
Pangasinenses, including former President Fidel Ramos and local officials led by
Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
Aquino said the Palarong Pambansa has served as the biggest stage to showcase
the strengths of athletes and hone their skills for local and international
competitions.
The Palarong Pambansa has produced well-known Filipino athletes like Lydia de
Vega and Elma Muros in athletics, Danny Ildefonso and Marlu Aquino in
basketball, Susan Papa and Eric Buhain in swimming, Chieffy Caligdong and
Christopher Camcam of the Azkals in football.
[PHOTO -President Aquino holds the ceremonial torch during the
opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2012 in Lingayen, Pangasinan last week. JONJON VICENCIO]
Aquino assured proponents of Philippine sports of continued government
support to ensure that local athletes get the training and equipment they
deserve to make it in the international sports arena.
Aside from setting aside P200 million from the DepEd's budget, the Philippine
Sports Commission has laid down the national plan for sports - the 2011-2016
Philippine Sports Roadmap.
According to Aquino, this roadmap has a "focus sports policy" geared toward
the development of choice sports such as boxing, taekwondo, athletics, swimming,
wushu, archery, wrestling, bowling, weightlifting and billiards.
He said the P200 million representing 33 percent of annual remittances from
the National Sports Development Fund will be used to fund the roadmap.
This is the second time Pangasinan is hosting the Palarong Pambansa after
1995. - Delon Porcalla, Cesar Ramirez



Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

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