Last week’s Metro Post’s editorial titled “Debacle,” hit the proverbial nail on the head. The topic you may recall, was the sad performance of the six divisions of Negros Oriental, in the “Palarong NIR 2017 sports competition, held here in our own back yard. As stated, it’s either, “Change or Die!” Thus, will we weep again next year and maybe raise the white flag of surrender? Bacolod garnered more gold medals; 156, than Dumaguete total medal tally of 100.
This will be my eighth year involving myself in local, regional and national competitions. I have been coaching, observing, and learning as the years went by. I needed to have a solid understanding of the issues, before I could make my two cents worth of opinions known.
For the record, I ran track and cross country in high school. After high school I competed in many sports competitions, such as swimming, running and triathlons. As a member of the U.S. NAVY, I also competed in many sporting events. But, I became a much more serious athlete at the age of 50, and did very well in the Florida Senior Sports arena.
Attending college in Tacloban City, Leyte at Divine Word University, I competed in athletics and baseball in the ‘PRISSA’ way back in the earlies 1970’s. As a member and chairman of the Tacloban Jaycees, we held one of the earliest Marathons held in the Philippines. I also coached a high school girl’s athletic team in Ohio.
So back to our dismal performance. Dumaguete sent 421 athletes to this regional meet. Did we need all these athletes? Let’s see, roughly one of four received medals and it may not even be that, since many athletes received two or more medals.
All the athletes received a complete uniform. That is, shirt, jogging pants, jacket, shoes, hat, back pack, and some received even more than that. Now since three of four did not medal, was it necessary for all of them to participate? There should be a qualifying time or distance in some sports, such as athletics and swimming. Just because someone takes a medal, it should not automatically qualify him for further competition. The Olympics has standards that must be achieved in order to compete at that level. Just think, the money saved could be used for those who train very seriously. Let’s take for instance those who medaled in the regional meet. They will still be around next year. Let’s give them the resources needed to improve for next year’s regional meet.
One of my own athletes won a gold medal in the City meet. His performance was not one to write home about. He missed weeks of practice due to an illness, but even after his illness he only practiced a few times. At times I saw him play basketball, but he was not serious about training for his event. I was against him participating in the regional meet, but he was required to compete. I have seen many athletes compete in the city meet only to be part of the festivities, and received the goodies. They can be called ‘social’ athletes. Why, one may ask, was he part of the regional meet? Maybe it was to bolster the numbers in the parade. By the way he did compete and did not even make it to the finals, meaning the top eight. What a waste of resources.
Yes, and how about the dreaded parade of athletes. As an athlete and coach in Cleveland, Ohio, I was never part of a parade. It’s all about competition. My grandson, back in Ohio is one of the top three in wrestling in his age group in the tri state area of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. I attended his competitions and again no parade. Why? It’s about developing athletes not pomp and ceremony.
To add insult to injury, the Sun Star of Bacolod in their March 7, 2017 issue, reported that the Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution to give financial rewards to all the Bacolod medalists in the 2017 Palarong NIR. They are also going to hold a motorcade for the city’s athletes. Wow, do you hear the laughter, do you see the smiles, how about the high fives? What a shame!
And finally, last week I watched the European Indoor Athletics Championship held in Belgrade. A long jumper named Ivana Spanovic, took the gold medal with the longest jump so far in the world this year. Why do I mention that? The television announcer made mention that she is considered an absolute mega star in her country of Serbia. Here in the Philippines, only a few sports reign supreme. Until there is a change in direction, other sports will take a back seat.
Well, so much for my two cents. ‘Change or Die’, what will it be. Next week the dreaded Dep Ed paperwork.
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Author’s email: HealthAssist@hotmail.com
