INTRODUCTION
I am delighted to be with you again, to share in the glories, as well as some of the heartaches, of Philippine sports this past year.

I enjoy your company for the same reasons that we all enjoy sports.

But for many of you here tonight, sports are your daily life and business. You work not just to inform and entertain our countrymen. More than that, you provide our people with a measure of their ability and achievement, both among themselves, and in the arenas of local, national and international competition.
MUCH TO BE PROUD OF
We have much to be proud of and be thankful for this year. Our magnificent boxers gave us an early Christmas at the Asian Games in Hiroshima, acquitting themselves with a truly world-class performance.

To Mansueto Velasco, Elias Recaido and Reynaldo Galido, we again offer our deepest and warmest thanks and congratulations for a job well done. Your accomplishment will live long in our hearts, and will give us courage in our moments of doubt.

We extend our special congratulations as well to the Philippine team that did all of us proud at the Chess Olympiad in Moscow. This team worked against the odds, achieving a result better than most of the rest of the world’s. The winning by Dr. Florencio Campomanes of an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) is another outstanding achievement for Philippine chess.

They proved convincingly that in brain as well as brawn, the Filipino can stand up to the world’s best, and triumph.
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES: SPORTS FOR ALL
This year also saw the inauguration of the Philippine National Games — our investment in our Olympic future, drawing on the athletic talents of all our people, whatever their station in life may be.

By these mass-based games, we affirmed our faith in our native capabilities — and beyond that, in developing the skills and talents, of new finds and providing them with the proper exposure and rigid training to achieve national prominence, and international competitiveness.

I said, in opening those games — and I would like to repeat it now — that a truly national, grass-roots oriented and progressive policy for sports must involve not just a select few, but all the people.

For only in this manner can we establish a wide and solid base from which to discover and develop those with world-class potentials. At the same time, we ensure that our people receive the benefits of physical fitness, and modern training methods and learn the values of strong self-discipline and constant teamwork. This, perhaps, is the enduring attraction and the ultimate prize of sports. It exists for both the few and the many.

And yet, whether we indulge in it as participants, spectators or reporters, it yields the immeasurable satisfaction of victory — and just as valuably, the wisdom of self-mastery, even in momentary loss.

In sport as in no other field, we find a genuine democracy of talent — a meritocracy — at work.

The opportunities are open and unlimited to all those who show promise. And those that train and prepare rigorously and then perform with excellence receive the recognition and rewards they justly deserve.

Thus, and at the same time, sport produces a unique aristocracy — the best of the field — individuals who, by virtue of their prowess, their discipline, and their sheer athletic ability give us a glimpse of our finest physical, mental and cultural possibilities.

And in team competition, we encounter the supreme satisfaction of harmony of effort and the nobility of self-sacrifice.
TEAM PHILIPPINES
It is these same qualities that we must develop in ourselves as a people and as a nation — as “Team Philippines” — a globally-competitive enterprise not only in sports but also in business, science, the arts, in people empowerment and other human endeavors.

Those of you who have been to international tournaments know exactly what global competition involves — and what it takes to succeed.

On the playing field, the same rules apply to everyone, regardless of status or origin. And yet it would be folly to think that all enter the field equally. Some teams may have a strong core of native talents, better logistical support than others, hi-tech training methods and several individual standouts who are sure medal winners.

But ultimately, success comes not only to those with individual aptitudes, but also to those who have prepared long and hard for competition as a country team.

Unity, discipline, rigid training and teamwork: as in sports, these requisites are the very same ones we need to succeed in economic competition in the open markets of the world.

We have just ratified our country’s accession to the Uruguay round of the GATT and the world trade organization. This means that, as we enter the 21st century, we shall also be entering a momentous phase in global trade, characterized by open and head-to-head competition between and among developing countries such as ours, and the industrialized world.
THE ECONOMIC OLYMPICS
We have entered, as it were, into the Olympics of the global economy.

There are those who continue to say that we should not have done so — not ever or, at least, not until we had fully prepared ourselves for international competition.

But I say to them and to you: while we train and prepare ourselves hard at home, early exposure to international competition is an indispensable part of our road to success.

Our industries will not be able to develop themselves and to flex their muscles to their full potentials until and unless they adapt themselves to the new global rules of the game.

Even so, we have established a system of safety programs and adjustment measures to cushion the impact of global exposure. We may find the first rounds exceedingly tough and difficult. But I remain confident that with the right strategy, resolve and endurance, and team spirit, as we are now developing, we will win our battles in the global arena in the end. Our economic performance in 1994 show that the Philippines is on the right track.

This week’s issue of Asia week (Dec 21-28, 1994), in assessing the economies of the many countries of the Asia-Pacific region, had this to say:

“The year’s biggest turnaround story is the Philippines. President Fidel Ramos switched the lights back on — and the economy brightened up. He got a governing coalition together and talked peace with Maoist, Muslim and military rebels. He opened the phone, banking and power sectors, pared tariffs further and sped up investment processing. The year’s estimated GDP growth, around 5.5%, tops even his planner’s most optimistic forecasts.

“The influx of money has pushed up the peso’s value by about 15%. That has squeezed exporters, but allowed manila to make a principal payment on foreign debt for the first time in over a decade. “The outlook has never been better in recent history,” President Ramos told Asiaweek. Agreed Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, a recent Manila guest: “The Philippines is on the right track.” and all that while playing democracy.”

By the same analogy, we cannot have gained those few victories we celebrate here tonight if we had not invested over the past many years in the exposure of our players to the toughest conditions the world has to offer.
UNITY AMONG OURSELVES
Our quest for that elusive Olympic gold –as well as for success in global trade, investment and tourism — is a process we have long begun, and must sustain, whatever effort and sacrifice it takes.

And this, my friends, is the greatest challenge to us as we approach a new century.

We must learn to face the competition squarely, banking on our native genius, determination and God-given resources, as well as applying the latest and most scientific training methods and strategies.

In sports, we may need to review and upgrade our coaching, training and psychological techniques, while expanding the pool of our potential Olympians.

Above all, we must achieve unity among ourselves, beginning with our sports officials and players. Let there be no more petty rivalries among them, for our time and resources are too precious to waste on self-promotion.

Whatever individual glories we seek, let us gain them on the playing field, where they will reflect positively on our achievements as a unified people.
CLOSING
Ladies and gentlemen of “Team Philippines,” the world is ours to master. But that begins with a mastery of ourselves — a quality shared by those whom we honor tonight by these awards.

To them, I extend my warmest congratulations, as well as to our sportswriters and sports officials, who have made this gathering of stars possible.

May we have more victories to celebrate in the years to come. My best wishes for the season, and a happy new year to you all.