Dr. Philip Ella Juico, former Agrarian Reform Secretary, and my successor in the Philippine Sports Commission, share a passion for children’s sports. For almost two decades now, we have been the proverbial “voice in the wilderness” advocating for the reformatting of children’s sporting events such as the DepEd Palarong Pambansa and the PSC Palarong Batang Pinoy.
Popoy and I believe that early exposure of children to structured sports competition can bring more harm than good on their physical, mental, psychological. and spiritual formation. An example is the following from Wikipedia: “The 1992 Little League World Series took place between Aug.24 and 29 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Little League baseball team representing Zamboanga City won its way through national trials, the Far East series, and after brushing aside the competition, was crowned the champion of the 46th Little League World Series. The team was stripped of its title, however, after Filipino journalists revealed to the world that the team had used ineligible players who, variously, did not meet either age or residency requirements…”
Locally, “No more corruption and cheating in Palaro! This was the promise of Education Secretary Armin Luistro as he formally opened last Sunday this year’s Palarong Pambansa…Stressing that he wanted to do away permanently with the image of previous Palaros marred by cheating, over-aged athletes, and other irregularities, Luistro said DepEd has instituted safeguards to ensure that this year’s edition of the annual sporting activity will hewed to the ideals of honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship. ‘This Palaro will be run based on Filipino core values of honesty and fair play,’ he said. The 2006 Palarong Pambansa was marred by ‘age cheating’ and ‘identity switching involving 16 athletes who allegedly connived with their coaches in committing the offense…”
In Dumaguete City, Foundation University banned an over-aged boy last year for playing in a football tournament, and his coach who inflicted physical violence on FU coach Carl Ray Cabetingan for complaining to the organizers. The parents of the boy watching the incident applauded and cheered when the coach hit the temple of Cabetingan. FU President Dr. Mira Sinco wrote the school principal where the boy is studying, and NORFA President Dick Emperado for sanctions to be imposed on the earring player and coach; her letter was ignored.
Recently, when coaches prevented their children-players to take part in an FU-organized futsal and football tournament, and officiating officials likewise boycotted the event, Juico and I decided that enough is enough, and that it is time to get the Office of President to intervene by issuing a Presidential Proclamation to promote and protect children’s right to play.
Dr. Juico and I plan to submit to the President a proclamation Declaring the Period 2012 to 2020 as the Decade of Children’s Right to Play.
The intent of this PP, which designates the Department of Education as the lead agency, is to implement play and sports programs that will minimize the imposition of policy and practices that govern structured sports competition for children such as the Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy, and other leagues where young children below the age of 18 years take part.
Salient provisions of the proposed PP: a) The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, entered into force on 2 September 1990 is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the complete range of human rights for children who area below 18-years of age, and the most universally-embraced human rights treaty in history; b) A Convention is an international agreement among countries and governments, and those that ratify Conventions are obliged to incorporate them into their own laws to make sure these laws are applied and respected; c) Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prescribes that State Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities–a right internationally promoted simply as “The Right to Play” and often referred to a the “forgotten right”; and d) 192 countries have ratified the Convention as of November 2005, with the Philippines as one of the signatories, and the government will now pursue a more direct implementation of programs and projects that will ensure the observance of the rights of Filipino children to play.
Upon issuance of the PP, we anticipate to see children playing freely without the interference of adults and even referees.
Robert Jaworski, during the retirement of his jersey’s number “7” that provides inspiration for the kind of play and sporting activities conducted under the vision and mission of the Decade celebration of children’s right to play, had said: “It is the duty of those who lead to nurture excellence, integrity, and honesty among others. Alam ninyo, yang word “honesty”, malamang sa basketball nagsimula yan dahil kapag naglalaro tayo ng one-on-one, two-on-two, or three-on-three sa mga barangay; hindi naman laging may referee. Hindi ba naglalaro tayo ng honesty?”
Jawo also said he wants to see basketball leagues where there is no need for referees because players will play their game honestly, without cheating and without violence.
The Philippines will be the first country whose government issues a call for a 10-year period dedicated to bringing back the freedom and power of play and sports to children and young people, “for health, education, social transformation, communication, partnership and peace” as the UN Task Force on Sports for the Millennium Development Goals advises member countries to incorporate in their national sports program.
