JAKARTA, Indonesia — Hopping from one Southeast Asian country to the other in a matter of days, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio went the extra mile to give a spirited pep talk to the national team competing in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships here over the weekend.

Committed to supporting and boosting national athletes in international play whenever and wherever possible, Gregorio met the national men's and women's team members separately over the last two days at the luxurious and heritage-rich Hotel Mulia just across the sprawling Senayan Sports Complex.

Unwilling to pass up the opportunity, the PSC chief went straight from the 8th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi, Vietnam last week to the Indonesian capital to learn first hand the status of the Filipino gymnasts before they swing into action while attending the opening of the world meet Sunday morning at the Indonesia Arena.

"I have always believed into going where our athletes compete overseas, hoping this will encourage and inspire them to do better," the PSC boss, himself a former basketball, boxing and rowing official, stressed after meeting with the national men's squad Saturday afternoon shortly after arriving from the airport.

Gregorio told Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, Juancho Miguel Besana, Justine Ace de Leon and John Ivan Cruz that he also drove two hours from Hanoi to Haiphong to meet with Pinoy rowers competing in the Asian meet before coming over here.

“It’s different when there’s an official supporting you. You get more motivated,” Gregorio noted.

He said that he had an emotional attachment to gymnastics, having witnessed first hand Yulo's historic golden double in last year's Paris Olympic Games. 

"You cannot sing your national anthem when you are crying," Gregorio said in recalling the pint-sized Filipino gymnast's golden moments in the French capital.

Gregorio also conveyed his conviction of boosting athletes personally to the national women's squad led by Paris Olympians Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo plus world debutants Elayza Yulo, the younger sister of Carlos, and Haylee Garcia.

"When we took over as PSC chairman, we promised athletes' welfare, upgrading facilities and promote sports tourism, which is why we are here for you," said Gregorio in an early breakfast dialog with the athletes Sunday morning..

The government sports agency head also encouraged the national squad members to register with the PSC-supported Elite Link, a mobile app where athletes can show their accomplishments online, hoping to be discovered and gain potential support of interested patrons and benefactors.