Investing in The Filipino Sports Talent

The Filipino nation takes pride in two gold medals bagged by gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo at the 2024 Paris Olympics, following in the footsteps of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who clinched the first ever Olympic gold for the country in Tokyo in 2021. The twenty-two member Philippine Olympic team received a well deserved grand welcome and a very moving show of gratitude from the Filipino people, from the red carpet lined up with young enthusiastic students at the foot of the Philippine Airlines aircraft as the athletes deplaned, to the streets of Manila as they were carried on a float in a motorcade parade. Also reaping honors for the country are Bronze medalists Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, both for women’s boxing. Worthy of mention as well is our Men’s Pole vault contender EJ Obiena who may not have won a medal but finished fourth, and weightlifting contender Elreen Ando who ended up in the sixth spot-an improvement on her seventh-place finish in the Tokyo games.

Behind-the-scene stories surrounding these triumphs would tell us how the Philippine government has failed our athletes too many times over. It happened to Hidilyn Diaz back in 2021, who had to look for private companies to sponsor her training. It has happened again to Carlos Yulo who did not even have a coach four months before the Paris Olympics. It happens every time our athletes do not receive the allowances due them. The common denominator among the stories of our Filipino talents in sports is that the government has failed to provide the investment needed to aid them in their training, and to give them the resources they deserve. And yet, when they come home succeeding, out of sheer determination, courage, strong will and passion for their sport, we bask in their glory.

It is time that the government seriously considers allocating more funds in sports development in our National Budget. Our Filipino athletes are certainly worth it.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“NEVER SAY NEVER BECAUSE LIMITS, LIKE FEARS, ARE OFTEN JUST ILLUSIONS”

Michael Jordan

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL WITH A FEW THINGS, I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY THINGS”

Matthew 25:21