WHAT YOU DON?T SEE WON?T HURT, yes?

Well, maybe.

But what happens when Filipino athletic greatness doesn?t get properly chronicled for the poor taxpayers to see?

Imagine one Manny Pacquiao title fight in Las Vegas getting blanked out here on home television due to lack of sponsors.

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That?s unthinkable.

You see, while the ever-thinning Filipino hope continued to be shattered by assorted tragedies, there?s always Pacquiao on the world stage for us to cling to.

It truly warms the heart how one dramatic win by the Pacman revives sagging pride while propping up the Pinoy spirit.

So, from a year of misfortunes, the poor Pinoy moves to a thrilling period with two major Pacquiao conquests, against Briton Ricky Hatton and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto this year.

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Sorry to report this, but the Filipino viewer was also shortchanged on the sporting front.

This came after NBN 4, the government television network, failed to cover the Philippine participation in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

No, this is not to say that the thrilling RP victories, rolled into one, in Vientiane could?ve overshadowed an earth-shaking Pacquiao win abroad.

No way.

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Just the same, it goes without saying that any of those RP victories in Laos would?ve added to that towering feeling regularly delivered by Pacquiao.

For the record, triumphs of Team Philippines in various fields accounted for a total of 38 gold medals and saved the country from languishing at a stinking sixth place in the overall standings.

On Dec. 16 alone, out there at the Olympiasa Stadium of the Lao National University, the Philippine national anthem was played a total of three times.

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Three fearless Filipinas, Josie Gabuco, Alice Kate Aparri and Annie Albania, each won a gold medal in women?s boxing, helping RP to top the event.

Hands down, the toast of the tournament was pretty Alice Aparri, who finished her final assignment with a swollen right hand.

She became an instant hit with members of the foreign media.

Aparri later told the Inquirer that, with the big incentives, which could amount to about P1 million, she would next recall her mother, a domestic helper in Hong Kong for the last 10 years, home.

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There was always heart-warming drama for Filipino victors on various fronts.

But all these were practically kept a secret from hometown viewers.

NBN 4 squandered the opportunity to deliver the bonus when it failed in its task as government carrying station.

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It was a no contest after NBN biggies claimed they could not afford the enormous broadcast rights demanded by Laos organizers.

The result: Overworked daily wage earners failing to get what they rightfully deserved.

No money?

Maybe. But the main reason was the obvious belief of Cerge Remonde, your ever-yawning press secretary, that his main task is to keep a faithful chronicle of President Macapagal-Arroyo?s multibillion peso travelogue.

The dreamy-eyed Cebuano whiz kid never had it so good.