Things are looking up for Philippine sports. After decades of dreaming and waiting, oftentimes ending up with disappointment, we are now seeing a renaissance of sorts in this field. Philippine sports is having a moment right now, and I think everyone should take notice.
Recently, our tennis prodigy Alex Eala made history by becoming the first Filipino to win a grand slam singles event. Alex defeated world number 3 Lucie Havlickova of the Czech Republic in the finals of the US Open Juniors tournament and I can’t wait to see how much further she will go in the pro circuit.
In June 2021 we also saw Yuka Saso become the first Filipino to win the prestigious US Women’s Open in golf. A month later, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz also made history by bringing home the elusive gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. We also remember the recent feats of our Philippine women’s football team, the Filipinas. After becoming the first Philippine team to qualify for the World Cup, the Filipinas also gave the country its first ever title in the Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship. It is also worth noting that next year, the Philippines will also host the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup. Many hoops superstars will fly in for the games and this will open up countless opportunities for us to showcase the country.
The accomplishments of these athletes are a testament to their hard work and dedication. They made a lot of sacrifices to get to where they are now and as spectators, we can’t help but celebrate with them on their triumphs and be proud of our connection with them as Filipinos. But just as important is the support they are receiving, be it from private sponsors or the government. During our plenary session last Monday, I raised these questions: What can we achieve if the government matches the commitment of the private sector and why do our best and brightest leave?
Over the past decade, the Senate has consistently supported our sports development programs through the budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). As a former chairman of the Committee on Sports, I saw to it that there were increases in the annual budget of the PSC. My colleagues who took over the committee’s chairmanship, particularly our Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and now Senator Bong Go, have continued their support to the PSC and the development of our athletes.
When I talk about the government’s commitment to our athletes, providing the budget, while important, is just one part of the equation. We need strong policies and programs to ensure that the funds are used properly and the appropriate interventions are provided for the benefit of our athletes.
It could be something as simple as facilitating the processing of visas for our athletes and coaches. They regularly have to travel overseas to train and compete. For instance, as pointed out by Senator Pia Cayetano, our pole vaulter EJ Obiena lives and trains in Italy but has to return home every so often to renew his visa. I agree with Senator Pia that our government could make the appropriate representations with its counterparts to make the process easier for our athletes. I call on the Department of Foreign Affairs to please roll out the red carpet for our athletes whenever they show up at your doorsteps. Make it easy for them because it’s hard enough to travel all over the world while training non-stop. How much more taxing and time-consuming would it be if they also have to spend so much effort and money to work out their travel documents? Let’s help them out so they can just concentrate on their training for their tournaments.
We need to review our policies and find out what is working, where we are deficient and how we can tweak these to best obtain our goals. It’s sad to think about the athletes and coaches we have lost in the past, including some of the best in their respective sports. The reasons behind their decision to leave vary but there appears to be a common tenor: the lack of opportunities and support coming from the government. It’s possible that we don’t have the policies that will foster a strong ecosystem for our athletes. This is the missing ingredient, along with strategic thinking in the realm of sports, the arts, science, research and development, and the other elements that contribute to nation building, to help in making the nation great, to help mold national pride and national identity.
Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 250 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.
E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara