Shouldn’t there be an honest, foolproof method of weighing triumphs and achievements in the current Southeast Asian Games?
Aren’t all gold medals here one and the same? Or are there more relevant feats truer than the usual shining gold of supremacy?
Shouldn’t there be an honorable method to help deal with dubious allegations and questionable huge expenses?
Take the case of the Southeast Asian Games flame in New Clark City. Should the Games cauldron be honestly classified as art and thus declared priceless by shameless, shallow authorities?
Whatever happened to that promised magical and memorable lighting of the Games flame that was ultimately downgraded to a mediocre recording to keep the opening rites intact?
It was not even worth a petty percent of its announced total cost, a monumental joke hurriedly acknowledged as art by the President himself.
ROGER CASUGAY. He was an obscure surfer before a qualifying long board challenge in the sea off La Union on Friday. Ahead, he abandoned his race to save a beleaguered Indonesian rival. Now everybody, including President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, has been hailing Casugay a definite hero. Casugay subsequently took gold medal once the interrupted long board event was resumed on Sunday.
His medal counted among the over hundred gold medals harvested in glee by powerhouse Philippines in the 30th SEA Games set to close today.
Casugay has humbly refused the accolade; and continued to count himself a plain weather-beaten son of the sea.
Casugay also continued to insist he has not done anything extraordinary. Of course, it was a most unusual gold medal he has won. He struggled from behind on Sunday to nip countryman Jay R Esquivel in the long board final.Casugay crafted his astounding heroics out in the stormy sea where waves boomed as high as ten feet.
As detailed by SPIN.ph, Casugay was heading safely to shore in his qualifying event against Arhip Nurhidayat when he realized the Indonesian surfer had been blown away after snapping his leash.
Casugay, well ahead, turned back to take Nurhidayat on board and lead him to shore.
The rescue went viral, with Casugay receiving countless praise and commendations.
Tweeted President Widodo of Indonesia: “My appreciation for Roger Casugay … Winning the competition and upholding sportsmanship is important, but humanity is above all.”
There were reports President Duterte wanted to thank and commend Casugay personally.
Philippine Sports Commission Chair William “Butch” Ramirez announced Casugay will be carrying the Philippine flag in today’s closing ceremonies, an honor reserved for outstanding Filipino athletes.
Whether he likes it or not, Casugay hogs the spotlight as one hero with a golden heart; while the overprized controversial Games cauldron will be reduced to monumental shame and waste.
Mabuhay ang Magiting na Pilipino. INQ