Binay opens 2011 Palarong Pambansa

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay urged participants of the 2011
Palarong Pambansa to stand united in order to inspire change in our
country.

"Sa paglalaro ninyo, tangan ninyo hindi lamang ang bandila ng inyong
mga rehiyon kundi ang imahen ng kabataang atletang Pilipino. Ang
paraan ng paglaro ninyo sa Palarong Pambansa ay maglalarawan hindi
lamang ng inyong sariling pagkatao kundi pati na rin ng bagong pag-asa
na umuusbong sa ating bansa," the Vice President said in his speech
during the opening of the Palaro at the Jose Rizal State University
Sports Complex in Dapitan Sunday.

Binay also stressed the importance of the youth's role in preserving
our environment. According to him, youth athletes are in the perfect
position to inspire others to care for mother earth.

"Lahat tayo ay may obligasyon sa Maykapal na pangalagaan ang ating
kapaligiran. Higit sa tungkulin ng pambansang pamahalaan, o ng mga
pamahalaang local, lahat ng mamamayan, mapabata man o matanda, ay may
dapat gampanan sa pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan," he said.

Binay also urged the participants of the Palarong Pambansa to become
role models and said the task of saving the environment becomes easier
if everyone is involved.

"Kaya naman umaasa ako na sa palarong ito, nawa'y matutunan ninyong
magbigay-pakundangan sa kapakanan ng ating daigdig. Maging maalam,
makialam at umaksyon. Ipakita ninyo na ang mga kabataang atleta ay
hindi lamang mahusay sa palakasan kundi may taospusong pagkalinga rin
sa kalikasan," he added.

The Vice President also reminded the participants of Palaro that
sports is not just about being better than others. He said that the
true spirit of an athlete is about bettering oneself to go as far as
your limits, and then taking it one step further.

"You endure and overcome the pain, the inconvenience, the frustration
and the failures, in order to exceed what you are now, and approach
what you can truly be," Binay said.

The Palarong Pambansa is an annual event that showcases our nation's
best student-athletes. Seventeen events will feature in this year's
Palaro, with divisions for boys and girls in the elementary and high
school levels.

08 MAY 2011
REFERENCE: OVP MEDIA