VOLUNTEERS: THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE SEA GAMES
For the Philippines to fulfill its dream of earning the top spot in this year's competitions, Ernest said there have to be people bold enough to stand up to the challenges that the country will be facing. This lot includes the sports leaders, who, as he put it, have the wisdom to carry on the tradition of cooperation and brotherhood that were evident among Philippine teams in the past. This also includes the Filipino spectators, who give nothing less than unwavering support to the local athletes even when, early on in a match, it becomes clear that the victor will not be one of their countrymen. And certainly, this also includes the champions who will emerge from the games arenas.
But Ernest believes that the ultimate heroes of the SEA games are the volunteers who are willing to run the extra mile to push the Filipino athletes into achieving their goals.
"The volunteer core is the heart and soul of the SEA games," said Ernest.
Even as the athletes train for the games, there always have to be those people who will ensure that things will run smoothly. He said that for this to happen, volunteers must be prepared to go all the way.
Ernest related a frustrating incident that occurred at the Rizal Memorial Stadium back in 1981. Two days before a big football match, the rainy weather had flooded the sports ground. If not for the volunteers who had been willing to fold their pants' cuffs up their knees and to wade the muddy grounds, the stadium wouldn't have been cleared of floodwater in time for the game.
"These are exactly the kind of people that we need, leaders who can tell us na gawin natin 'to [let us have this thing done]," said Ernest. Moreover, he said that the nation needs people who are willing to do extraordinary things to accomplish certain goals.
He added that true volunteers will find all these sacrifices worth their while, because despite all the hardships, they know, "nandyan sila para sa Diyos at para sa bayan [they are willing to work for God and for the nation]."
Indeed, heroism and patriotism are the driving force behind the untiring SEA games volunteers. As Ernest said, they are the people who are willing to wake up at the wee hours of the morning to set up a court or a field. They are the people, who will do all sorts of activities during the games, from sweeping the equestrian grounds to being masseurs for exhausted wrestlers. They are the people who will find it just fine not to be paid a single centavo or to be given complimentary food, but are still unflagging in their resolve to up the country's chances to win more medals.
"Volunteers are just like OFWs," said Ernest. "They are underpaid, overworked, but at the end of the day, they are still alive!" he adds with a laugh.
The SEA Games volunteers undeniably have all the reason to persevere and remain standing regardless of all the ordeals. Aside from taking care of most of logistical efforts, they also work to motivate the athletes, to push them to their limits, and to bring out the best in each one of them. Ernest related how his steadfast loyalty to the mission of his charges back in 1981 and 1991, was translated into renewed determination and unexpected victories for the Filipino competitors.
|
