Karma is real

JUST like what I said previously, the karma is real. And its’ indeed real. Like a ghost that will hunt you down, no matter what you did or done, good or bad. It has it's consequences whether you like it or not. You just to have to be ready to accept it.

Take the case of Thailand’s recent hosting and conclusion of the 33rd South East Asian Games, which was marred allegedly of massive fraud leading to manipulating games’ results as protest and complaint filed by officials of several participating countries, including the Philippines, mounted against the Thai organizing committee.

Thailand practically, almost, but not quite, won huge number of medals totaling to 499, 233 gold, 154 silver ans 112 bronzes. Most of those came in events, Sepak Takraw with 29, Handball, 18, Hockey,5 ,10, Polo, seven, and Badminton, one. Not to mention there were 50 sports, 105 disciplines and 569 events. And it likewise surpassed Vietnam’s 205 golds, when it hosted the regional meet in 2022.

Well, that’s good my congratulation to Thailand. But their celebration were seriously doubted by other officials from member countries, allegedly claiming they were robbed of their victory, as they accused games’ officiating officials, conspiring with the Thai organizers in manipulating the results in favor of the host.

What seems to be a gathering of the region’s brightest young and finest athletes, tarnished with controversies, ranging from bias officiating, and other irregularities in several sports hurled by other participating countries against the organizing committee.

This could go down in SEA Games history as the most talked about, not in terms of intensity of the games, but due to questionable calls during and after the match is over, One of which is a Vietnamese Pencak Silat athletes were hospitalized due to neck injury following strike during a semifinal match.

Also in Pencak Silat, Malaysian official had heated altercation with Thai officials protesting the judges decision against Thailand. Other participating countries who were allegedly victim of bias officiating where Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have expressed their disappointment with the Thai organizers in running the event

Even our own athletes were also victim of bad officiating, like in boxing, wherein we only produced a lone gold in Olympian Eumir Marcial’s knockout win over his Thai opponent in the light heavyweight class. Nesty Petecio, got silver medal despite dominating the opposition in three rounds, and other boxers settled for the bronze.

In the men’s basketball finals, witnessed by hundreds of our kababayans living and working in Thailand, how the referees tried allegedly help the home team to keep the contest within distance after Gilas posted a 15-point lead midway in the third quarter. A total of 37 free throws were awarded to the flamboyant Thais, including five crucial free throws in the final four-minutes of the game.

But karma came too soon. As it taken its toll. Their luck of experience on pressured packed game, saw the Thais missed four free throw that could have them within two-point 68-64 with less than two-minutes, before PBA’s best free-throw shooter Robert Bolick sealed the Philippines’ 20th SEA Games basketball gold medal with pair of basket from the stripes, with seven seconds left.

Like I also mention previously, GIlas Manager Alfrancis Chua will be joining boxing head Marcus Manalo and rest of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) head from member countries in filling complaints before the SEA Games Council, to their different sports federation and it could lead to investigation. Accusations due to lack transparency and inconsistency and fairness.

There were reports being rumored, should allegations proven against Thailand, ban or suspension can be handed out. Meaning, Thailand will not be allowed to host any the regional games, such the SEAG, Asian Games, World Games or Championships of a particular sport, Asian Youth Games and most probably the soon be SEA Plus Youth Games Under-17.

With the “Sword of Damocles” hovering on Thailand’s head, now I’m truly convinced, that Karma is real. And its indeed. I told you so.( Pag Thailand kalaban, di binibeybi ang Thai..pinapa’thai!- ed)