By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday slammed remarks by critics against the opening ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last weekend.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III
(PRIB Photo by Henz Austria/11 November 2019)
In a series of Viber messages to reporters, Sotto said he was losing patience over criticisms of the SEA games which, he believed have already gone overboard.
"Sumobra na dunong ng mga pintasero (The intelligence of critics are too much). Pati si Ryan Cayabyab, Jimmy Antiporda, Eloisa Matias and also the group that directed the Opening ceremonies of the gusto pang pakialaman (They are even meddling with Ryan Cayabyab, Jimmy Antiporda, Eloisa Matias and also the group that directed the Opening ceremonies of the SEA Games)," the Senate leader lamented.
He also disagreed with comments against the taped lighting of the P50-million SEA Games cauldron by his colleague and boxing legend, Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and world boxing champion Nesthy Petecio at the New Clark City Stadium in Tarlac.
"In the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics, the segment of the Queen and James Bond was pre-recorded. Walang umangal (Nobody complained). Dito sa atin reklamo ang mga epal bakit daw hiwalay at recorded 'yong lighting ni Manny (While nitpickers here are complaining why Manny's lighting was separate and recorded)," he added.
"I will not be surprised if these people are praying that we do not win!" Sotto said, calling critics "selfish".
The opening of the 30th SEA Games last Saturday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan earned praises for showcasing Filipino heritage.
Others, on the other hand, aired criticisms on the production and the recorded lighting of the cauldron, which recently made headlines for the cost of its construction.
Among those who also criticized the ceremony was presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for the use of the '70s Hotdog hit song "Manila", as it supposedly failed to represent Visayas and Mindanao.
The song was about a Filipino who is living in another country to work but is homesick.