Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has backed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who defended the Philippines’ performance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games amid criticisms.
In a statement issued by the Baguio Public Information Office on Sunday, Oct. 4, Magalong praised Gregorio for defending Filipino athletes and sports officials, describing the PSC chief’s message as ‘exceptional, passionate and strongly worded.’
The mayor said the public should ‘look beyond wins and losses’ and recognize the work, dedication and sacrifices of athletes regardless of their results.
‘Chairman Pato was right. This is the best output in so many decades,’ Magalong said, congratulating the athletes, coaches, trainers and sports officials.
According to Gregorio, the Philippines recorded its biggest overall Asian Games medal haul in 64 years, since the 1962 Jakarta Games, despite falling short of its target of eight gold medals.
He also noted that the country won medals in nearly 19 sports, compared with 11 in the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
Gregorio cited the silver-medal finish of 18-year-old taekwondo athlete Tachiana Keizha Mangin, who reached the final after defeating Japan before losing to China via superiority in a scoreless gold-medal match. He said the result should also be appreciated as part of the country’s overall performance.
The PSC chief also said sports officials attend competitions not only to celebrate victories but also to show athletes that they remain supported even when they fall short of winning medals.
Gregorio also announced plans to roll out a P100-million PSC National and Regional Youth Training Pool Program for athletes aged 16 and below across the top 40 national sports associations beginning in January.