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Fifty-two year old dentist, Ernest Sanchez Jr., has won several gold medals under his belt in the fields of cycling, basketball, among others in the 1981 and 1991 Southeast Asian (SEA) games held in the Philippines. He expects to win more this year since the competitions will be hosted once again by the country. Although he is not an athlete, being a SEA games volunteer enabled him to contribute greatly to the triumphs of team Philippines.
"I am an eight-gold [medal] winner. 'D i ako nanalo (I did not win) , but I helped in winning them," Ernest said.
While sitting on a chair in his office located at E. Rodriguez, Quezon City, he recalled his first experience as a volunteer during the 1981 SEA games. "When they started recruiting [volunteers] in 1979, I was the youngest [then] at 28," he said. Although he was younger than most men who were already in their thirties and forties in the volunteer core, he was tasked to spearhead the Special Operations committee which oversees transportation, security, food, and venue during the event. For him, being part of the volunteers team was among his biggest contributions to the country.
Back in the '70s and '80s, the Philippines was considered the "sickest man in Asia," an underdog in sports competitions, and one of the lowest-ranked countries in the medals tally. That is why he aspired to achieve more gold medals for the nation. He said, "I really wanted three to four athletes [under my supervision] to win golds."
Even though the sports program at that time was still being put into place, the volunteers pool were already training and preparing two years before the start of the SEA games as ordered by the National Sports Association (NSA). They had been constantly meeting, practicing, and even staying up late with the athletes. Contrary to what most people would think, their responsibilities as volunteers were not merely to act as scorers or water boys, but it was more of being motivators, coaches, friends, and cheerleaders, all rolled into one.
"Our role was to motivate the athletes. [We were there] to bond with them, to help them appreciate what they are doing, [and] to bring them to their full capacities," he added.
THE SPIRIT OF 1981 SEA GAMES
The unexpected positive turnout of 45 gold medals in the 1981 SEA games, a first-ever for the Philippines, inspired and gave hope to Ernest and other Filipinos as well. This pushed him to volunteer again in 1991 wherein he got assigned as the SEA games' Venue Coordinator in Manila (Central). Also during this year, volunteers increased in number as more women and young individuals were invited and accepted.
Even if it was already a home court advantage, the country did not achieve the most coveted top spot but landed only in second place. The Philippines also fell almost 60 medals short of the forecasted number of golds. "Many were crying," Ernest said with obvious sorrow and pain in his eyes.
"What was lacking was the spirit of 1981," he said. He further narrated how things should have been for the country. He mentioned that in 1981, volunteers were more personal and more bonded with the athletes. This, he said, lacked in 1991.
For the 2005 SEA games, he envisions that a unity should happen between the old and the youth. "In 1981, the volunteers were the old, while in 1991, they were mostly youth. I hope they will merge into one," he said. He added that the maturity and experience of the old and the energy and dynamism of the youth should compliment each other and combine together to form a winning formula for the nation.
"I pray and hope the 2005 championship will give Filipinos what we have always aspired for," he said. Furthermore, he added that "if Vietnam and other nations can do it, why can't we." For the 2005 SEA games,
he envisions that a unity should happen between the old and the youth. "In 1981, the volunteers were the old, while in 1991, they were mostly youth. I hope they will merge into one," he said. He added that the maturity
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