UNA sa lahat, atleta.

Minsan pang tiniyak ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio na patuloy na isusulong ang mga programa para mas lalong maingat ang mga atletang Pilipino.

“Sinabi ko na po ito minsan na dapat maging maligaya ang ating mga atleta para maligaya din ang 150 million Filipinos. Pinatunayan na ito ni Hidilyn Diaz. Pinatunayan na din ito ni Caloy (Yulo),”

pahayag ni Gregorio sa nakalipas na San Miguel Corporation-PSA Awards Night sa Diamond Hotel Manila kamakailan.

“Let the athletes be in the limelight. They are our compass. For when our athletes succeed, we know we have succeeded.”

Tinukoy ni Gregorio, na nahirang na “Executive of the Year” ng PSA dahil sa kanyang mahusay na pamumuno sa government sports agency, ang tatlong pangunahing programa

Ang mga ito ay “athletes’ welfare, strategic infrastructure development and sports tourism.”

“The PSC and its staff are enablers, not gatekeepers, not disciplinarians. The PSC’s success is not just about single authorship. We let all sectors participate in what we want to do, and that is our secret,” pahayag pa ni Gregorio sa naturang pagtitipon na itinaguyod ng PSC, San Miguel Corporation at ArenaPlus.

“I already had a plan. Alam ko na kung ano ang aking gagawin, paano gagawin at gagawin ng mabilis. I have been committed and focused on three things since that day: athletes’ welfare, strategic infrastructure development and sports tourism,” dagdag ni Gregorio, na sinamahan nina PSC commissioners Fritz Gaston, Bong Coo at Walter Torres at executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy.

Sinabi din ni Gregorio na mas malawak ngayon ang resources ng PSC dahil sa pagsusumikap ng kanyang kapwa PSA awardee Yeng Guiao.

Inihayag niya na ang panalo sa Supreme Court ni Guiao, na naghaiin ng petition para ipatupad ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation at Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office ang Republic Act 6847, ay panalo din ng atletang Pilipino.

Samantala, inihayag ni Guiao na ang kanyang legal victory sa Supreme Court ay ang pinakamalaking achievement sa kanyang career..

“This is a lasting legacy I’d like to leave to my family. Minsan lang ito mangyayari. I don’t think this can be repeated again,” dagdag pa ni Guiao sa kanyang speech matapos tanggapin ang PSA President’s Award.

“But I always believe that you honor your parents through the person you become. So I’d like to honor my parents with this award. And I’d like all of you to share it because I know you’re here because you love sports,” pagtatapis ni Guiao, a champion coach para sa Rain or Shine sa PBA.

Ang naturang awards ceremony ay sinuportahan din ng Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, at Acrocity.