AMID Friday, September 2, evening’s bombing incident in Davao City that killed 14 and injured 67 others as of Saturday’s (September 3) press time, athletes threw their support for Dabawenyos while condemning the barbaric act.
Senator and eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, on his social media site, said: “Praying for the victims and their families affected by the Davao City explosion. #PrayforDavaoCity.”
Pacquiao, who is also preparing for his upcoming fight against Jessie Vargas, graced the Top Level Consultative Meeting on Development Plan for Philippine Sports and setting up of Philippine Sports Institute at the Century Park Hotel in Manila Thursday afternoon, September 1.
Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who had a short visit in Davao City when she paid a courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte, in a Facebook chat with Sun.Star Davao yesterday, said, “Nakakalungkot kasi na kakainis bakit kasi mga inosenteng tao dinadamay,” said the Zamboanga native Diaz who is currently in Cebu City with Davao del Norte Rio boxing Olympian Charly Suarez for an event dubbed as “The Process of Building Olympians” organized by Epic Performance Fitness at the City Sports Club Cebu.
Diaz, however, urged everyone to entrust everything to God, adding, “I can only offer prayers for the victims and their family. Kaya nating lampasan to kapit lang kay God! Laking tiwala ko sa galing ng ating Presidente at sa galing ng aking mga kabarosa military.”
Palarong Pambansa 2015 double gold medalist MeageyNiñura of Kapatagan, Digos City, for her part called on Dabawenyos and the rest in Davao Region to stay strong.
“Don't lose hope. Kabalo ta atong Presidente gahi walay kahadlokan, kita pud na sakop nya wala pud tay kahadlokan. Pray lang ta og maging alerto (We know our President has no fear, let’s not be afraid. Let’s pray and stay alert),” Niñura said.
Dabawenya Singapore Southeast Asian (Sea) Games wakeboarding 2015 double bronze medalist Mikee Teh Selga, in a separate chat, said she felt sad for the families of those killed and for those who were wounded.
Selga said, “Only thing I can really do right now is pray. I know that God will guide us.”
PBA's Meralco Bolts player Baser Amer, who also hails from Davao City, said he is sincerely praying for the souls of all who passed away.
“No words can comfort the families they left behind. It is time to unite as one. Let us focus on preventing more of this to happen. Let us trust our officials on their move because they wouldn't want any less than our safety,” he added.
Former Ateneo de Davao University be-medaled swimmer John Paul Elises, now with De La Salle Zobel, was also sad for the families of the victims.
But he is confident that with President Duterte telling everyone else to be strong together, Davao will stay strong and become even stronger.
Chess international master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling, meanwhile, slammed the persons behind the dardastic evil act, calling them heartless.
Multi-titled martial artist Steve Sur Grandeza also felt strongly about the incident.
“Those massage therapists were just there to earn a living. There were even some blind therapists in the area,” Grandeza said.
De La Salle University (DLSU) football varsity player Jed Ramos Diamante said he feels very sad whenever he is reminded of the bad news.
Diamante, also a former Addu athlete, added, “I have grown up in Davao knowing that it’s safe. But that does not mean that it’s immune to these incidents. I am sure our government, led by Papa Digong, is doing its best to solve the problem. I have full confidence in them.”
He also urged fellow Dabawenyos to pray, saying that it’s not the first time a similar incident happened here.
“We got through it before, we’ll get through it again,” Diamante said.
