Photo by Marc Reyes/INQUIRER
The Philippines is tired of being among the last placers in the region.
Chef de mission to the 2017 Southeast Asian Games Cynthia Carrion said Thursday this year’s Philippine delegation is eager to climb up the ladder in the medal standings.
“I think we’re tired of” said Carreon during the send off ceremonies at Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions in Pasay Thursday night.
Carreon even correlated the gross domestic products of the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors to its sporting success, saying the country should also be performing well in the sporting stage.
As per the International Monetary Fund, the Philippine is the no. 4 country in the Southeast Asian region in terms of GDP per capita at $2,951.07 in 2016.
The Philippines, however, finished sixth in the 2015 SEA Games behind Thailand, host Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia with a 29-36-66 gold, silver, bronze medal haul.
“We’re up there with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in terms of GDP,” said Carreon. “So we can do the same in sports, and we should really do that.”
Carreon added their target for a gold medal haul is 50, a number that is more than double that of the 29 the Philippines won in Singapore.
“I say around 50, but when I talked to all the athletes they promised me 63 but I just want to say 50,” said Carreon. “I feel we’re going to reach the target.”