One of the characteristics of a University Town is its passion for sports. Here, that passion is manifested by our hosting national competitions like UniGames for several instances in the past, and soon, the Palarong Batang Pinoy on Nov 10-13.
Right after the Philippine National Games held in Bacolod last May, I received a text message from Philippine Sports Commission Chair Ritchie Garcia inquiring if Dumaguete City would be interested in hosting the PBP. I said Dumaguete is a sports-minded community and I am sure the local government officials would welcome the opportunity. I also told him that PSC should talk to the provincial government, which owns most of the athletic facilities.
Last week, PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga came to Dumaguete to talk with Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria, City sports officer Jose Guirit, Gov. Roel Degamo, and with newly-installed Provincial Sports Director Engr. Junny Dumalag, regarding the hosting of this regional games for budding athletes ages 13 to 15 years old.
While in town, Commissioner Loyzaga paid a surprise visit to Foundation University, and joined Dr. Mira Sinco, Dean Sinco, and myself for lunch. He explained that the PBP will be staged with minimum fanfare, and with the purpose of discovering young talents who could represent the country in the 2nd Youth Olympic Games to be held in 2014 in Nanjing, China.
After lunch, I toured Loyzaga around the FU campus and he took pictures of the athletic facilities that could be used for the games. I also took him to Robinsons where, I suggested, the 3-on-3 basketball games could be played.
Young Negrenses will have the opportunity to show their skills in 14 disciplines, either individual and dual: archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, gymnastics, judo, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, and weightlifting.
Looking at the list of the various sports disciplines, I realize the inadequacy of sports programs (if any at all) that are being pursued in the schools, sports clubs, or by the local government units.
We have no developmental programs for most of the sports of the PBP. While the Province boasts of an all-weather track oval, there’s hardly any activity utilizing this facility. Except for walkers and runners using it, this P24 million facility is a white elephant.
From what I understand, the Department of Education does not have any gymnastics program even while it’s a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa.
And where shall we get entries for wrestling and weightlifting which are essentially club sports?
There have been moves to organize a City Sports Council and a Provincial Confederation of Sports but from what we see today, nothing has progressed beyond meetings and consultations.
In staging the PBP which was last held in 2004, the PSC is partnering with DepEd, the Department of Interior & Local Government, the League of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangays, and the POC.
The first regional eliminations will be held in Zamboanga City on Oct 17. The other regionals will be in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, NCR, and the Nationals on Dec. 10-13 in Naga City.
For the Visayas eliminations, Commissioner Loyzaga announced that City Sports Officer Joe Guirit will be in-charge.