Alongside mishaps, SEA Games bright spots noticed by celebs

Bart Guingona, Ethel Booba and Juan Miguel Severo. Image: Facebook/Bart Guingona, Twitter/@iamEthylGabiso, Facebook/@JuanMiguelSevero

Amid the controversies hounding the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, celebrities are finding silver linings in the hosting of the biennial regional sporting event while still seeking accountability from officials.

Theater veteran Bart Guingona for one defended the criticisms against the organizing of the SEA Games.

While politicians and netizens alike are engaged in a word war, Guingona posed the question: “If we all shut up now about how badly this thing started, you think anyone will be held accountable?”

“Will we be reimbursed for that cauldron? Will there be an actual investigation into the BCDA-Berhad deal? Will it erase the reports from foreign publications?” he posted on Twitter on Thursday, Nov. 28.

Just hypothetically, if we all shut up now about how badly this thing started, you think anyone will be held accountable? Will we be reimbursed for that cauldron? Will there be an actual investigation into the BCDA-Berhad deal? Will it erase the reports from foreign publications?

— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) November 28, 2019

He reasoned in a tweet on Wednesday, Nov. 27 that citizens can be critical of the event and still support Filipino athletes. “The time for any citizen to question the government he pays his taxes to is when that government fails him. It’s not our right. It’s our DUTY. Of course we support our athletes and our country! But doing so AND questioning the government aren’t mutually exclusive.”

The time for any citizen to question the government he pays his taxes to is when that government fails him. It’s not our right. It’s our DUTY. Of course we support our athletes and our country! But doing so AND questioning the government aren’t mutually exclusive.

— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) November 27, 2019

From problems in logistics, venue and food, down to the P50-million cauldron, the country’s hosting of the multi-sport event has been seemingly plagued with red flags that have prompted citizens to react negatively.

Soon after the backlash, the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc. announced on Nov. 27 that they “have resolved everything,” before the SEA Games formally opens tonight, Nov. 30.

Guingona in a separate tweet said Phisgoc chairman Alan Peter Cayetano should be held accountable for the hosting blunders, as he referred to a report on Cayetano daring SEA Games critics to do so.

‘Kaya naman’

Some celebrities are now giving credit where it is due to facilities and services that are geared up to host the games.

“Kaya naman kasi, e (See, it can be done),” actor and spoken word poet Juan Miguel Severo tweeted in reference to one Twitter user @grmnl’s post showing an impressive-looking Santa Rosa Sports Complex, where netball games are being held.

https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1199704611008811014

Severo also commended through heart-eyed emoji the Rizal Memorial Coliseum’s art-deco style restoration, which was led by architect Gerard Lico.

READ: Improvements seen at Rizal Memorial for SEA Games football matches

Comedienne Ethel Booba, who has been critical of the supposed kikiam served to athletes, meanwhile lauded the Athlete’s Village of New Clark City in Tarlac.

In the tweet showing the photos referred to by the comedienne, the dining hall features an abundant selection of food and drinks prepared for the SEA Games athletes.

“Good News and Good Job. Kung di pa papansinin sa social media baka isipin nila na okay lang na kikiam ipakain sa mga atheletes ng SEA Games,” she said in a tweet yesterday. “Sana magtuloy tuloy kasi even President Duterte upsets (sic) on what happened. Charot!”

(Good news and good job. If the blunders were not criticized on social media, people might have assumed that it was okay to serve kikiam to the SEA Games athletes. I hope this continues, because even President Duterte is now upset about what happened.)

Good News and Good Job. Kung di pa papansinin sa social media baka isipin nila na okay lang na kikiam ipakain sa mga atheletes ng SEA Games. Sana magtuloy tuloy kasi even President Duterte upsets on what happened. Charot! https://t.co/pdOqU6ysmG

— Charot! (@IamCharotism) November 26, 2019

Jim Paredes, also a critic of the organizing boo-boos, meanwhile commended the New Clark City stadium which includes a light installation, saying it “looks impressive” in a tweet on Thursday. The video was taken from the Instagram account of Arrey Perez, vice president for business development of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1199956510140321793

READ: New Clark City sports hub ready to host SEA games — Cayetano, Go

He also hailed the Biñan City Football Stadium for its preparedness; besides the top-class football field, the stadium has an air-conditioned media center and serves halal-certified food to athletes.

Top stars from the local entertainment industry — such as Judy Ann Santos, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Chito Miranda and Pia Wurtzbach — meanwhile rallied support for the SEA Games. NVG

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