
The Philippines hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games got off to a bad start with several news about the shortcomings of the organizing committee.
Even local celebrities and news reporters took to their social media accounts to share their thoughts about the lack of preparation of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
Stories about unfinished press area, repetitive menu, and the poor accommodations for arriving athletes are some of the trending topics online.
For example, GMA news reporter Raffy Tima's Twitter post about his media ID for the 2019 SEA Games, which shows his photo but has his wife's name, Mariz Umali, on it.
He jokingly wrote on his post, “Hello Phisgoc, kaninong ID po ito? Sa akin o kay @marizumali? Asking for a friend
“P.S. Sana po papasukin niyo pa rin kami para mag-cover.
Hello Phisgoc, kaninong ID po ito? Sa akin o kay @marizumali? Asking for a friend 🤣 P.S. Sana po papasukin niyo pa rin kami para mag-cover. 😄 pic.twitter.com/y5HTLLb5RQ
-- Raffy Tima (@raffytima) November 25, 2019
Raffy's wife and GMA News reporter Mariz replied in jest, “Atleast pati sa ID, conjugal tayo mahal ahihihi”
Atleast pati sa ID, conjugal tayo mahal ahihihi 🥰😍😂 https://t.co/WqyCmvTmvq
-- Mariz Umali (@marizumali) November 25, 2019
Singer-actor Khalil Ramos and F2 Logistics volleyball star Desiree Wynea Cheng criticized the government for the numerous problems encountered in hosting the 2019 SEA Games.
Nakakahiya. “Handang handa na tayo”????????? https://t.co/KywMyyYtgj
-- Khalil Ramos (@TheKhalilRamos) November 24, 2019
Pag kakaalam ko kahit papaano maayos naman ako mag laro, pangalawa hindi ko need mag seagames kase madaming deserving na magagaling na players kesa sakin. Pangatlo.. pic.twitter.com/KOXxB0v6Ew
-- Desiree Wynea Cheng (@itsmedescheng) November 25, 2019
“priorities” wala man connect kay VP pero sana man lang bigyan pansin muna kung ano mas nangangailangan un ang supporta at tamang treatment sa mga atletang mag lalaro sa seagames. Sino ka ba?
-- Desiree Wynea Cheng (@itsmedescheng) November 25, 2019
Meanwhile, TV sport anchor Sev Sarmenta appealed for unity and stressed there will be a time to investigate what happened in the 2019 SEA Games.
Sports analyst Charles Tiu also echoed Mr. Sarmienta's opinion and said that we should all focus and support the Philippine team in their quest to win medals in the competition.
The SEA Games are upon us and we're going to have to work and stay together to make this happen. Not everything is ready and it seems so easy to criticize. Let's just make this work and we can dissect and evaluate this after the Games are done.
-- sev sarmenta (@sportssev) November 24, 2019
Not defending any agency or group in the Sea Games. We should ALL make the games work. This is the last point I will make on this as I will make my small effort to see the Games through. It's not perfect or smooth so far but let's do the jobs we are assigned for the effort.
-- sev sarmenta (@sportssev) November 25, 2019
Time to focus on our teams now. For all the challenges and road bumps, there are very many hard working men and women behind the scenes trying to make this work, and then there are our athletes who have been making their sacrifices! Laban Pilipinas! https://t.co/RhVzRribhO
-- Charles Tiu (@charlestiu) November 25, 2019