By Bobby Rondez, Correspondent
MANILA, the country's premier city, was picked as one of the three cities that will play host for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games following an extensive meeting by the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) at the Malaca�ang Palace Monday morning.
Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, one of the seven members in the government side comprising the Philsoc, confirmed the capital city's appointment.
Puentevella said Manila's appointment was based on its successful staging of the Games twice back in 1981 and 1991. However, he said it is not yet certain whether Manila will be the SEA Games' main venue. Other cities being eyed as host for the 2005 Games are Bacolod, Naga, Clark Field in Pampanga, Lanao del Norte and Socsargen.
"What is certain is that there will be more than one venue in the coming SEA Games in 2005," said Puentevella, who met with his counterparts from the Philippine Olympic Committee led by POC president Celso Dayrit for only the second time since the committee was formed in February.
With Manila chosen as one of the three venues for the biennial meet, it is certain that the Big City will use the facilities in the age-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, which was also the Games' hub in '81 and '91. The Manila Sports Council has been pushing hard in recent months for the Big City to host the Games, touting the Manila Marathon on June 22 as its build-up for the event.
The news will certainly be welcome to Masco chairman Ali Atienza, who has said the Philsoc should have decided the Philippines' host area as early as last month. Meanwhile, the Philsoc is set to decide in two weeks' time on the logo and slogan of the biennial event, where the country is hoping to finally capture the overall championship after it slipped away in 1991, when Indonesia edged the hosts by just a gold medal, 92-91.
