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Articles, Issues, Sport Industry

(un)JUST PUSO: On the Plight of Philippine National Athletes

Or why the heart is not enough to heal the ailing system of sports
development in the Philippines
By Kristian Gerard A. Bruel

Filipinos are naturally in love with the idea of sports. In fact, we are very passionate about it. A
perfect example is that of basketball. In almost every street in the Philippines, you will see a
basketball court filled with kids and adults just enjoying the beauty of the game. Most of them
are dreaming to be the next Jimmy Alapag of the country and be that person who will represent
the country and make his countrymen scream for the glory of the Philippines in sports.

Michael Martinez (Photo via rappler.ph)

As a sports-minded individual that shares the same passion for Philippine Sports as other
Filipinos do, I decided to conduct a thesis on the plight of the Philippine National Athletes. My
study is entitled: (un) JUST PUSO: Why the Heart is Not Enough to Heal the Ailing System of
Sports Development in the Philippines A Study on the Plight Of Philippine National Athletes.
This thesis focused on the level of sports development that the country has reached and the
current state of our national athletes.

Upon the rigorous data gathering procedures conducted, including key-informant interviews,
surveys, and case studies, I came to find things that are very shocking and unacceptable as an
advocate for Philippine sports. Based on the conducted interviews with experts, such as heads of
National Sports Associations (NSAs), coaches, national athletes, government officials, and
Philippine Sports officials, they testified that there was no significant improvement in the sports
development of the country in many years. There was no upgrade in the facilities and equipment
for the preparation of athletes in international competitions.
Also, the rights of the national athletes are taken for granted. They dont get to exercise their
right and get the right benefits they are entitled to. What is worse is that some national athletes
who continue to sacrifice not only their time but their entire life are being harassed and are being
used as means to other sports officials ends of corruption and politicking. Such case was
experienced by the Philippine Dragon Boat Team that brought the country pride and honor by
winning various international competitions, and yet they became victims of politicking and
corruption of sports institutions that should have primarily been taking care of them.

To cite another example of politicking in the industry

I cannot say specifically, pero there is such a thing as hometown decision. Di ba merong ganun
ever since before, like a home court decision. Its not something bad, kumbaga may home court
advantage. We cannot deny that there are- maski saang insititution siguro- there is politics. Hindi
mo matatanggal yan, but it should not prevail, because sports is genuine human effort out of
blood sweat and tears ng isang tao, kapag pinasukan mo ng politics then all of that is parang set
aside eh, which is unfair. Siyempre sports talks about fairness, sportsmanship.

National Team Training Director

Overall, factors such as funding, corruption, politicking, lack of better management and
leadership, lack of focus, and geography have been the main culprits of the slow development of
sports in the country.

On a more positive note, I conducted a survey among Filipino people and the result was a true
testament to how much the Filipinos love our national athletes. Most of the respondents said that
they were more than willing to support our national athletes no matter how they perform, win or
lose. They also know that national athletes deserve more benefits and incentives in order for
them to succeed and get better in representing the Philippines. The survey results proved that the
support system national athletes get from their fellow Filipinos matters. As what the athletes said
during my interviews with them, the pain of training and hardships they encounter all vanish
once they hear their fellow Filipinos cheer for them.

Laban Pilipinas! (Photo via fifa.com)

In conclusion, I recommended the integration of the PSC and POC and the construction of an
entirely separate government institutiona Department for Sports. This shall increase sports
development in the country in various facets. As for the uplifting of the national athletes, I
recommend having Sports Regional Training Centers (SRTCs) and the full implementation of the
Philippine Academy of Sports (PHAS) in order to train the youth that has the potential of
bringing home the elusive Olympic gold for the country.

But before implementing all these, the Philippine government must first appreciate the effort
national athletes put into training and competing for the country. It is their role to provide them
benefits and incentives that they are entitled to.

Stop being corrupt.

-National Athlete, Tennis

Please be Fair.

-National Athlete, Womens Basketball

Giving more support wont hurt you.

-National Athlete, Swimming

Please continue to support us athletes, and also please improved the facilities because not just
us will make use of those facilities but also the younger and next future athletes/pride of our cou
ntry.

-National Athlete, Triathlon

I think support should be divided equally to sports that have the same potential. Attention is jus
t mainly focused on basketball, soccer and boxing and there is so much politics going on betwee
n the government officials which affects or hinders the overall development of the athletes.

-National Athlete, Tennis

Dapat dagdagan (suporta ng gobyerno). Saka dapat dagdagan ang allowance ng mga athlete,
kasi minsan bitin allowance ng mga athlete, eh yung iba magagaling umuuwi o nagaabroad kas
i mas malaki yung bigayan doon so nawawalan tayo ng ibang atleta.

-Former National Athlete and Silver Medalist

After finishing the entire study, I cant hide how deeply disappointed I am of the current state of
Philippine Sports. By conducting this study, I have found out that in the past administration, the
Philippine government does not see sports as a tool for development. In fact, sports is not
prioritized. This study also went beyond knowing the current plight of national athletes but also
provided an in depth analysis of the athletes welfare in terms of funding, government assistance,
PSC and POC management, and other factors. It also proved that sports has a direct link with
development and that it could be a vital tool towards promoting unity and belongingness.
However, this is not being considered by those in power. In short, sports development in the
country is nowhere to be found and that national athletes who are supposed to be taken care of as
part of the core of Philippine sports are being marginalized in various extents.

As a longtime supporter and as a Filipino, I certainly hope that this study helps our national
athletes in advancing all their concerns. The heart is not enough indeed, but our heart is what
triggers us to change what we know is not right. Thats why I call each Filipino to support our
national athletes and help them fight for their rights. They are not just national athletes that carry
the name of our country in every international competition they compete in, but they are also
heroes that decided to give up their life for the glory of Philippines in the arena of sports.

Kristian Gerard A. Bruel is an advocate of Philippine Sports Development and uplifting the
situation of National Athletes. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree on
Development Studies from the University of the Philippines, Manila. He looks forward to helping
the country in improving its sports development programs and making a difference in the lives of
the national athletes that continues to be his idols in terms of the passion, perseverance, and
heart they put into representing the country. Email ianbruel@gmail.com for inquiries.

Issues, Sport Advocacy, Sport Education and Science, SWEEP

From the Philippines to Denmark, Girls Sports Mentoring Program

Legacy Thrives
Posted on January 16, 2016 at 1:05 pm by karen delos reyes / 0

Made possible by the team work between Empowering Women & Girls Through Sports,
an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, and espnW, the Global Sports Mentoring
Program (GSMP) has become one of the most successful efforts to empower women and girls
all over the world since its inception in 2012.

Particularly in the Philippines, the Sport Management Council of the Philippines

(Sportphil) recently led a Sports Envoy program. From September 28 to October 3 of 2015,
Geraldine (Bernardo) co-hosted Sports Envoys Michelle Goodall and Eric Hodgson from USA
Volleyball in the second GSMP-Sports Envoy crossover program, the article states.
Articles, Issues

The IOC Good Governance Principles: Fair Play In A Globalized

World
Posted on October 22, 2015 at 3:46 am by karen delos reyes / 0

by Erick Fabian Sr.

We cannot expect others to adhere to high ethical standards if we do not do so ourselves. We

cannot expect proper conduct on the field of play if we do not have good governance within the
Olympic Family. Jacques Rogge, Congress Opening Ceremony Speech, XIII Olympic
Congress Copenhagen 2009

As each sporting activity is unique and possesses a different set of rules in comparison to another
form of competitive athletics, sports governing bodies were established to oversee the
establishment of official game rules. These organizations also serve as a channel for experts of a
particular sport to gather and make crucial decisions on gameplay changes and how athletes
organize themselves for competitions.

Groups such as sports federations and professional sports leagues that engage in any Olympic-
listed sport are required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to comply with their
regulatory code, the IOC Universal Principles of Good Governance. In contrast to the more
localized jurisdiction of sports governing bodies, the IOC monitors Olympic sporting groups all
over the world. The organization ensures that each countrys athlete development methods
comply with the IOC standards.

Guardians of Credibility

The IOC enforces these governance principles on both national and international sports
organizations to maintain a modicum of fair play and ethical behavior in the global sports
community. The Olympic committee also actively addresses corruption in involved groups, often
by supporting ethics committees when it comes to disciplining and penalizing members who
engage in bribery, illegal drug use, and other unethical actions.

The IOC also compels organizations to apply their governance code when it comes to evaluating
their decision-making procedures. Dysfunctional sporting organizations are enjoined to reform
their ranks so as to regain lost credibility in the world sporting community.

Transparency and accountability is encouraged when it comes to how sports groups run
themselves, whether it be on dealing with criminal behavior among athletes and officials. This
also applies in ensuring fairness when it comes to selecting qualified competing athletes for
Olympic events.

One recent case was when IOC president Thomas Bach called out FIFA to reorganize after the
suspension of its four officials: president Sepp Blatter, secretary general Jerome Valcke, former
vice president Chung Mong-joon, and aspiring presidential candidate Michel Platini.

Blatter was FIFA president for 17 years. The FIFA ethics committee had him suspended due to
allegations that the Swiss mis-sold a World Cup TV rights contract to the disgraced former FIFA
official Jack Warner in 2006, and made a disloyal payment of 1.3m to Platini in 2011.

Governance Issues

International sports events and activities are held back from completely benefitting both athletes
and their respective societies when there is poor governance. Unethical practices and corruption
can leech from resources meant for developing potential athletes. These people are also short-
changed and harmed when corrupt practices are not actively responded to.

While many organizations may not necessarily behave in a corrupt manner, inefficient
management of organizational resources do not just damage the reputation of sporting bodies but
also contributes to the devaluing of many hard-working athletes efforts. It also reflects on the
political stability of the organizations home country.

One possible reason for poor governance in sport groups is the slow development in mostly
voluntary organizations, which have to be professionalized and regulated so that it can adapt well
into the rapid modernization and commercial exploitation of the sports industry. Another reason
can be that sports organizations usually operate independently from their respective national
governments.

At the same time, national governments usually end up intervening only when they perceive that
the sports governing body is inefficiently run. The IOC stands on the fact that a sport
organizations autonomy should be earned through public respect, by showcasing its capability to
successfully manage its resources and properly allocate needed funds to answer the needs of its
athletic trainees.

After all, it will only be within reason for national governments to require convincing results
from sports groups because it is still the primary source of funding for most of them. Even
corporate-sponsored groups are accountable to their private benefactors because they have to
convince sponsors that they are worthy investments by showing that the organization has a
semblance of good governance.
Public Response

While sports scandals and poor governance are nothing new, the issue of sports governance
garnered serious public attention during the 1990s after sports academicians and broadcast media
considered the topic worth investigating, as these controversies often involve high-profile people
with financial and political interests.

National governments and private business entities that sponsor athletes also became involved,
because the former mostly wanted justification for public expenditures. The latter needed
evidence for their stockholders to be convinced that athletic sponsorships can bring in a
significant return of investment.

The IOC initiated the Agenda 2020 in 2014, which included a Working Group on Good
Governance and Autonomy. Among their recommendations, this one is concerned with sports
governance: All organizations belonging to the Olympic Movement to accept and comply with
the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement
(PGG).

Some Basics

Among the principles touted by the IOC governance code, transparency, responsibility and
accountability are emphasized to be mandatory for sporting bodies that are Olympic constituents.
This means that, regardless of physical location and situational context, the sports group carrying
the name of the Olympic Games will be expected to abide by its code of ethics. Any behavior
contrary to the IOCs principles will be penalized even if not directly related to sports activities.
Some of the principles guided by the code include the following:

1. Transparent practices in creating rules for the organization, in dealing

with finances, in operating procedures, and for it to be audited by a qualified,
independent entity. Overall management is also expected to be transparent
in their transactions.

2. Efficient internal communication is also a must, to avoid mismanagement

and to expedite operation procedures. Management decisions are expected
to be shared responsibilities rather than individual decisions.

3. Officials and office-holders are expected to provide clear and regular

reporting to the Olympics committee. The election of these officials
should be on a regular basis and legitimate (in accordance to the Olympic
principles).
 4. Involved sports organizations and their individual members are
given the right to appeal about all forms of disciplinary measures.

5. People belonging to specific ethnic minorities are to be respected by

the sport governing body, and the right to free speech is also to be
respected. This means that officials should be willing to listen to and
address grievances by members and other concerned individuals without
censoring them.

6. The organizations decision-makers are also expected to avoid

conflicts of interest especially when such will prove to be disruptive to the
organizations operations.This includes an officials relationships outside the
group, that can influence the sports organizations decisions to their
advantage.

7. Money received through Olympic sources should be spent only for

Olympic-related purposes is another aspect of the code worthy of
highlighting.

Articles, Issues, Sport Industry

Will The Real Team Philippines Please Stand Up?

Posted on October 7, 2015 at 4:37 am by karen delos reyes / 0

by Erick Fabian Sr.

On the right to be called Team Philippines

There will come a time when lines have to be drawn and the elephant in the roomthe proper
usage of Team Philippineshas to be addressed by the Philippine Sports Commission and
other related organizations, both government and civic. Sports teams and even non-athletic
organizations left and right have been observed to claim the title, to the point that it is becoming
confusing as to which group one is referring to.

We are not simply talking about every athletic league being trained and sent by the government
to compete with other countries. They have all the right to call themselves Team Philippines
because they are not only representing themselvesthey are representing the aspirations of a
country.

Even local groups who compete in international tournaments, whether it be chess, hip-hop
dancing, or competitive video gaming, can use the name for as long as they are flag carriers,
setting aside their personal agendas and making the cause of the Filipino people their first
priority.

It is those organizations and individuals with intentions unrelated to national concerns that
should be subjected to criticism. When they use Team Philippines only because it can garner
them influence and credibility, then it is a deceptive act that does not benefit the country in the
long run, no matter how noble their intentions are.

As public momentum gained by the recently held 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and the
upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the issue of who should be using the name
should be settled soon. Not doing so would show a fragmented front, a disunity that Filipino
culture has been notorious of since the nation was born.

Should the name be copyrighted? It will definitely help if sports organizations around the
country can consolidate their efforts on this, in the least, for the sake of future sports teams that
will represent the Philippines in the global arena.

Team Philippines carries with it the connotation that you and your fellow athletes are doing it
for a higher cause. It has a certain ring to it that the public easily responds to. One thing you can
expect Pinoys to do is to root for our national sports teams when they compete abroad.

The average Juan and Maria off the street can and do identify with our efforts at making a name
for our country, especially in world sports. One look at Pacquiaos career and it is glaringly
obvious.

Even supposed locally slow-catching sports such as rugby and soccer are gaining more fans,
especially from Filipino millennials who are more exposed to a varied palette of sports
entertainment than their elders. They see their peers from abroad get behind their own national
teams with such fervor, and they are looking for something that they can also identify with
among their fellow Filipinos. This is another reason why proper use of the name matters.

At the moment, the name is being carelessly bandied about by groups with questionable motives,
mostly online. Not that there are no sports teams using it properly, as in the case of those athletes
who represented the country in the 2015 SEA Games.

Allowing just anyone to take the name for their purposes betrays the premise of being a team that
supposedly has the nations best interests at heart. It is a disservice to those who are sincere in
representing the best that all Filipinos can offer the world, because it is the nations reputation
being put on the line.

One way to determine who has the right to the name is to consider the point of view of the
various groups with a stake on the name. A survey can be conducted to help consolidate
impressions on what a National Team should be, and where everyones expectations overlap.

The publics perception of what Team Philippines means to them should also be taken into
account. To them, it probably is any person or group that excels in any sport, alongside the
national favorite Bs: basketball, billiards, boxing, and bowling.
When these people compete in international events, they represent the country, as in the case of
Efren Bata Reyes and Django Bustamante on billiards years before. People live vicariously
through them when their games are being televised.

To other non-elite athletes, the name signifies any group that competes in sporting events abroad,
for as long as they are carrying the flag and representing the country. These people bring pride to
the Filipino people as well.

To the corporate sponsors, it mostly means whoever it is they endorse to compete in Olympic-
sanctioned events. They are more likely to support a national team whose members are already
brand endorsers.

Nikes Team Pilipinas Uniform

We have to ask the pervasive question: Who has the final say on what Team Philippines should
be? That in itself deserves a separate discussion, and will be dealt with in a separate article.

We cannot put to risk all of these great aspirations, alongside opportunities to inspire national
unity, if a name with so much public faith invested in it can just be used wantonly, at the whim of
any group and individual looking for public attention and renown.

Team Philippines might just lose its meaning and influence by then, and we will have wasted an
opportunity to unite a people otherwise given to regionalist tendencies and political factionalism,
considering that sports is one effective way to get Filipinos into thinking that they are fellow
Filipinos to each other, despite their differences.

Articles, Issues

Revisiting the Sports and Benefits Incentives Act for National

Athletes and Coaches
Posted on September 15, 2015 at 1:30 am by karen delos reyes / 0

by Erick A. Fabian Sr.

A look into the rewards that National Training Program members should be getting from the
government, then and now.

Republic Act 9064: A needed boost

In 2001, former President Gloria Arroyo signed the Republic Act 9064also known as the
National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, or Sports
Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001a law meant to benefit Filipino athletes and sports
professionals.
The purpose of the Act was to promote excellence in sports and through sports by providing for
the welfare of national athletes, coaches and trainers competing for the country and particular
benefits and incentives for those who have brought honor and recognition to the country by
winning in international competitions.

As the said law states, deserving recipients registered under the Philippine Sports Commission
(PSC) are to be given cash and other non-monetary benefits to national athletes, coaches, and
trainers. Some of the specific incentives are the following:

Twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments relative to the

utilization of transportation services, hotels, and other lodging
establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine
and sports equipment anywhere in the country.

Minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees

charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals,
and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement.

Free medical and dental consultations in private or public hospitals

and similar establishments anywhere in the country and medical insurance
program to be provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PHIC).

A comprehensive social security program to be formulated by the Social

Security System within one hundred eighty (180) days from the approval of
this Act.

Priority in existing livelihood programs being undertaken by various

government agencies subject to the guidelines and qualifications by the
implementing body

Priority in national housing programs, affordable pabahay loans and

other housing opportunities subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by
the National Housing Authority (NHA) or the Home Development Mutual Fund
(HDMF).

Other benefits included scholarships, death benefits, and retirement

benefits, with family beneficiaries as well.

All in all, it was a well-stated law with admirable intentions. As with every law, though, its
power is only as effective as how it is enforced.
According to sports writer Neil Bravo, it took nine years since its legislation to be actually be
enforced, under the administration of President Aquino. It encountered several problems along
the way. The government agencies involved are having a hard time coordinating with each other
in allocating the benefits.

It also had its share of controversies. What was meant to benefit all national athletes competing
for the country turned out to be discriminatory in its choice of recipients. Longtime sports
journalist and sports TV commentator Joaquin M. Henson opined in his August 6, 2003 article,
written for his Philstar column Sporting Chance, that [the] scope of the lawis limited. It
defines the competitions under review as the Olympics, quadrennial World Championships, the
Asian Games and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. That means no recognition for annual or
biennial events such as the Bowling World Cup and the World Pool Championships, which are
both yearly jousts. RA 9064 also rules out recognition for athletes who earn prize money. In
effect, the coverage is strictly for athletes who compete under the aegis of the Philippine
Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

While it is still lauded as a step in the right direction when it comes to improving the poor state
of the sports industry in the Philippines, it is in need of several improvements, alongside its
enforcement, in order to become a beneficial reality for Pinoy athletes.

Even Inquirer sports columnist Manolo R. Iigo put in his two cents by saying that the R.A. 9064
is unfair to non-Olympic sports. There are several international sports competitions that Filipino
athletes join in that requires the same amount of hard work and training as the Olympic sports. A
sports incentives law, in other words, should be inclusive and wider in its scope in order to be
successful in improving the countrys sports industry.

Enter House Bill 5912

Last August 2015, the House of Representatives approved the third reading of House Bill 5912,
also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Law. The bill is
intended to repeal RA 9064 and to expand its scope to include all types of sports competitions.

If finally passed into law, it should provide benefits and incentives for national athletes and other
athletes who win in international sports competitions, as they represent a positive side of the
country in the international arena.

Rep. Anthony G. Del Rosario, chairperson of the House Committee on Youth and Sports
Development, promises that The bill will expand the coverage of incentives granted to national
athletes and coaches in a bid to promote excellence in sports and looking after the welfare of
national athletes and coaches competing for the country.

The lawmaker added that the bill increases the incentives granted to national athletes and
coaches, while also expanding into the coverage of international sports competitions. Unlike RA
9064 though, this one excludes trainers from being beneficiaries of the incentives and benefits.
More so, athletes with disabilities are now added to the definition of national athletes.

HB 5912 is more inclusive as it defines national athletes as athletes of Filipino citizenship, who
are members of the national training pool, accredited by the POC and the PSC. It includes
athletes with disabilities recognized and accredited by the National Paralympic Committee
(NPC) and the PSC, and who have represented the country in international sports competition as
Team Philippines.

For one, under the measure the national athletes who have represented the country in
international sports competitions, recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic
Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as Team Philippines, who won
gold, silver and bronze medals in international sports competitions shall be entitled to cash
awards.

The other perks are similar to the ones previously stated in RA 9064, but this bill promises to
have more enforcement weight to it. Some of those expansions include:

Tax deduction, instead of tax credit to private establishments for

giving 20% discounts to the athletes and coaches.

Penalties and fines for any person, corporation or juridical person for non-
compliance of the 20% discount granted to the national athletes and coaches
is also provided in the measure.

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) benefit

through PSC sponsorship and makes the athletes honorary member at the
age of 55 while the coach at the age of 60.

Winning national athletes are entitled to scholarship benefits, and

would likewise be given priority by the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority
(TESDA).

While this bill is indeed an improvement on the old one, the enforcement issue remains.
Hopefully, Pinoy athletes will see its promises fulfilled soon and that our hard-working sports
professionals are given their due. If it does happen, we can once more look forward to a raise in
national morale and an improved Philippine athletics industry, and consequently, a progress in
our nation-building efforts.
For more information on both RA 9064 and HB 5912:

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9064_2001.html

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2015/0824_prib2.asp

Articles, Issues

[INFOGRAPHIC] Women in Philippine Sports

Posted on September 11, 2015 at 3:33 am by karen delos reyes / 0

In 2014, Commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevara of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had a

talk on women in sports at the elite or national level, discussing important data on the current
status of female athletes in the country. Here is a detailed infographic summarizing her report.

Articles, Issues, Schools / Universities

[VIDEO] TED Talk on Naperville: Want Smarter, Healthier Kids?

Try Physical Education!
Posted on August 18, 2015 at 5:30 pm by karen delos reyes / 0

Quality, daily physical education in schools not only reduces obesity amongst our children, but it
improves academic performance. With more than 40 years in the field of education, Zientarski
has created a highly successful program called the Learning Readiness Physical Education
(LRPE) program at Naperville Central High School. The program has produced such dramatic
improvements in test scores, behavior and childhood obesity that it has inspired adoption in
school districts from across the country and around the world, including Denmark, China, South
Korea and Canada. His program has been highlighted on major TV networks and featured in
documentary films. Zientarski shares his educational philosophy and programs with audiences
nationwide, including the Presidents Council on Health, Fitness and Nutrition in Washington,
D.C.

Articles, Issues, RePLAY

Sport for Post-Disaster Relief

Posted on June 24, 2015 at 7:44 am by karen delos reyes / 0

By Dina Bernardo, SportPhil Founder

The Philippines sustained numerous devastation in 2013. Below are four (4) relief efforts that
used sports to give affected places something to root for past their post-disaster problems.

Can Sport be the Answer?

Since 2002, the Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) have researched and documented the
timely and purposeful administration of sports for relief in post-disaster and post-conflict
situations. In a country ridden with disasters, the Philippines is wanting of local examples and
research to support the benefits of sport.

The Sport Management Council of the Philippines (SportPhil) has been a strong advocate of
Sport for Development. It has harnessed local sport scientists and psychology experts to launch a
program building the capacity of teachers and coaches in the use sport for psychosocial relief,
aptly coined RePlay, ReLive and ReCreate Community Resilience through Sports or R3.

1. With the Korean New Sports Association September 1 and 2, 2014, in

St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban Inc. (STEFTI)

Synopsis from YouTube channel video

The Philippines sustained the worlds strongest typhoon last November 8, 2013. To date, many
are still homeless and in despair.

Heeding the call to help through sports, AASM member Prof. Hyungil Kwon of Chung Ang
University gathered his students and partnered with Korean New Sports Association,
International Sports Relations Foundation (ISR) and Samsung to train teachers from Bethel
International School and St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban Inc. (STEFTI) for the
donation and training of the use of modified sports equipment known for its safety and ease
in order to encourage wide participation and inclusion of children in physical activity. In return,
the teachers are tasked to reach out to other beneficiary schools and execute the same. In so
doing, multiplying the impact of the assistance, beyond what was initially given.

2. With the Center for Sport, Peace and Society in Tacloban

In light of the Tacloban disaster in November 2013, University of Tennessee Center for Sport,
Peace and Society proponents Dr. Ashleigh Huffman and Dr. Sarah Hillyer visited Tacloban from
March 9 to 11, 2014, to conduct sport-based psychosocial interventions. These interventions aim
to restore wellbeing through physical activities within the context of local traditions, needs and
resources. In disaster situations, they are designed to create a safe and structured environment for
survivors and reinforce social cohesion.

100 days after Typhoon Haiyan devastated Leyte, a team composed of members from the Sport
Management Council, U.P. College of Human Kinetics, the International Emergency and
Development Aid (IEDA), together with the US Department State funded Dr. Huffman and Dr.
Hillyer, and Initiated the program RePLAY, ReLIVE, ReCREATE*, which entailed the
administration of purposeful and intentional physical activities for psychosocial relief in post-
disaster victims.

A State Department video, where it can also give you an idea and the synopsis.

The main objective was to capacitate teachers and trainers on the use of sport and physical
activity for psychosocial relief. The participating schools and institutions were: from the Private
schools Sacred Heart Seminary, Bethel International School, and St. Therese Educational
Foundation of Tacloban Inc. (STEFTI); from the government schools UP Tacloban, Palo
National High School, Eastern Visayas State University, and Leyte National High School; from
the LGU Tacloban City Sports Council, and Leyte Sports Academy.

Observations and narratives from the participants were analyzed after three months to reveal
themes that clarified the suitability of the interventions: participants and their wards developed
changes in perspective from helplessness to feeling of empowerment, to ability to look
forward and to commit towards community rebuilding. More importantly, sport-based
interventions continued even after the initial relief has gone.

Project Sport for Love in Tacloban, Leyte

Barely two months after Typhoon Haiyan struck, Dr. Kong-Ting Yeh, President of the Asian
Association of Sport Management (AASM) launched the campaign Sport for Love with the
goal of comforting the victims of the disaster through sport. After months of organizing and
soliciting, the day finally came on August 26 and 27, 2015, for Dr. Yeh and his student James
Hao of the National Taiwan Sport University, to bring slacklining to Tacloban, Leyte.

Slacklining is similar to tightrope walking, but using a flat piece of webbing tied between
supporting structures or anchors. The activity began in the 1980s among mountain climbers, who
during days of rest, would tie climbing ropes between trees to see if they could balance, jump or
do stunts.
Today, slacklining has grown in popularity among the young and old, from the recreational to
serious enthusiasts, due to the ease of use of the equipment and the benefits derived in
developing balance and core strength. Psychologically, slacklining improves concentration,
confidence and encourages interpersonal interaction among its participants.

Such was the case when Dr. Yeh and James set up the Slackline at the Peoples Park in Tacloban,
Leyte to demonstrate and teach the workers from the International Emergency and Development
Aid (IEDA) on the use of slacklining for their outreach work at the relief centers.

The activity instantly drew curiosity from those who ventured to try, not only from among the
students but even adults, who could not resist the lure of play their spirits buoyed with each
attempt on the flat web, whether they were successful at it or not. For sure, each participant went
home afterwards feeling refreshed and raring to conquer another day towards recovery.

Our heartfelt thanks to Gibbon Slackline, the National Taiwan Sport University and AASM, for
showing us once again, the power of sport.

Understanding the Dynamics of Sports-Based Interventions

Seminar in Zamboanga

A post-conflict seminar for Zamboanga October 9 and 10, 2014 at Western Mindanao State
University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City, titled Understanding the Dynamics of Sports Based
Interventions, were attended by students and teachers from Ateneo de Zamboanga and
University of Zamboanga. A talk on sports management and sport-based psychosocial
interventions were held. Sport psychologist and international author Dr. Marissa Adviento-
Guinto, who did a research on Mind of a Champion, interviewing the likes of Paeng
Nepumoceno, Eugene Torre, Manny Pacquiao, Efren Bata Reyes and Bong Coo, also conducted
a compelling lecture.

Articles, Issues, Local Sports

Seeking the Peripheries in Sports: A Journal at the 2015

Philippine National Open Athletics Championships
Posted on June 16, 2015 at 4:34 pm by karen delos reyes / 0

By Airnel T. Abarra, Ateneo de Davao University

Being inside a Jesuit University, we at the Ateneo de Davao University Athletics office are
always reminded by our University President Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ to follow the request of His
Holiness Pope Francis to go in the Peripheries. In the sport that I am coaching, it is known how
Athletics or Track and Field is the sport that is given less attention in the Philippines as far as
funding, media exposure, and crowd following are concerned. Compared with ball sports in our
country, there are a few events in our country that showcase the talents of our Track and Field
athletes. Thats why when I learned about the 2015 Philippine National Open Athletics
Championships, I rushed to the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna to network with
athletes, coaches, and officials in Philippine Athletics. This is also the best time to gauge how an
Athletics meet is done on a national scale and what lessons one can learn in doing such
programs.

I went to Sta. Cruz as an independent media, being also a blogger of www.pinoyathletics.info.

Upon getting my ID, I went to do the coverage of the said event. During the whole tournament,
Ive seen how Fil-Heritage athletes, commonly known as Fil-Ams, excelled, such as thrower
Caleb Stuart, who won all his events in throwing. In Running, Isang Smith, Jessica Barnard, and
Brandon Thomas all excelled in their respective track events, while Donovan Grant had the same
fate in Long Jump. It is clearly seen how our homegrown athletes are challenged by those who
were born, raised, and trained in first-world countries like the United States.

The influx of Fil-Heritage athletes in our country is a reflection on how our state and our society
look Track and Field as a sport. Few people choose this sport for their children and only those
who prefer it are coming from the provinces with humble socio-economic status. We can count
only with our fingers the events and tournaments that are solely for Athletics: Palarong
Pambansa, Philippine National Games, and National Open. They have been institutions in the
sport program, but given their classical structure, they do not cater much to all those who want
participate especially those in the grassroots level, because they just happen once every year.

Comparing on what the structure of track and field programs in first world countries, they excel
because they have more localized meets, which are joined by athletes from different clubs and
organizations. Those localized meets serve as the base of higher events that will lead to the
selection of players. The National Open that I witnessed in Laguna still needs to be promoted
further. There should be meets in different cities which are sustainable and doesnt depend on the
bureaucracy in order to run.

Coach Air with 100m dash women winner Katherine Khay Santos

Still during the National Open, I have seen local athletes that have continued the legacy of our
track stars, such as Lydia De Vega-Mercado and Elma Muros-Posadas. Marestella Torres and
Katherine Khay Santos could be a great start towards our aspirations to get Philippines back on
Asian Athletics map. Ive talked to Khay Santos and told her about the monthly track meet and
other events in Ateneo de Davao. Seeing this ladys talent and good character, she can be the
rising star and poster girl in Philippine Athletics. One thing that Philippine Athletics needs is
character athletes and coaches. I am hopeful that by bringing these athletes closer to different
groups and providing them avenues of learning experience outside their field, they can represent
the sport more. Promising athletes, such as 100-meter juniors winner Eloiza Luzon from
Bukidnon and Sonny Wagdos from Davao, can be trained further and better if we create an
extensive program for our homegrown athletes.

After the tournament, I had a good conversation with Isang Smith and opened the possibilities of
collaboration for a sustainable localized Athletics meet in Davao. This in relation in the vision of
making athletes empowered by communicating to them and exploring possibilities for
collaborations.

To wrap-up my experience in the National Open, it is clearly seen that in order to raise the
standards in Philippine Athletics, we must give better learning opportunities for our homegrown
athletes and coaches. Expatriate athletes are also needed so that they can really boost the level of
competition. In order to do that, Philippine Athletics events should be scattered to different parts
of the Philippines, localize meets, and leaders and policy makers should really go to the
peripheries.

AIRNEL T. ABARRA is the Head of the Track and Field Program at Ateneo de Davao University.
He is formerly from UP College of Human Kinetics and also a sport sociologist.

Articles, Issues, Local Sports

Better Sports Education for Future World-Class Filipino

Athletes
Posted on May 29, 2015 at 8:29 am by karen delos reyes / 0

By Dean Philip Ella Juico, De La Salle University Manila

Back in 1995, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Dean Philip Ella Juico discussed
the crucial role of physical education and sports development in the country in order to
successfully compete globally. Sport Management Council updates and republishes his
presentation, showing its substantial relevance even almost two decades after.

More than the debate on the level of support in the upper-tier amateur and professional ranks, the
first thing that ought to be done in talking about a productive and constant Philippine
participation in international competitions is to discuss the Philippine physical education and
sports development framework. This is an essential step in any discussion of high-level or elite
sports, since this level of competition generally draws its existence and strength from sports
development at lower levels.
For starters, sports development at the lower levels are strengthened and supported by a number
of laws and executive issuances that, together, make up the framework of a Philippine physical
education and sports system. These laws and issuances, include among others, the law creating
the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC), the Executive Orders creating the National Physical
Fitness and Sports Development Council (NPFSDC) and its counterpart in the Regional,
Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay levels. In addition is the PSC strategic plan that was
crafted in 1995 and updated thereafter up to 1998.

The pyramid structure of sports development (see image above) starting from the schools, going
up to the barangays, clubs, regions, national programs, National Sports Associations (NSAs),
National Athletes Pool, Philsports (the hub of the national network), and the physical location
of the majority of the national athlete/coaches pool and culminating in the highest level of
elite/high performance sports, the Olympics (including Olympic-type, multi-sport competitions
such as the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian or SEA Games).

The Integrated Programs of Sports Development framework shows the role and positioning of
international/high performance/elite sports. The left part of the diagram makes up the mass base
or amateurs/weekend athletes who take up sports for recreation and occasionally for short
competitions. The situation becomes more competitive as you move to the right side of the
diagram.

The Five Stages of Development of Philippine sports:

1. Mass Sports the foundation

2. Philippine National Games (PNG) three PSC administrations have shelved

3. Sports Talent Reserve and Athletes Pool the source of athletes for high level
sports

4. High Level Sports Olympics or Asian Games, for example

5. Sports Entertainment and Amusement generally professional sports, such

as the National Basketball Association, the Philippine Basketball Association,
or the World Cup of Soccer
Such framework is essentially in place, but what needs to happen is to ensure that the framework
becomes a working/operational framework rather than just a theoretical one.

Using the Assets

It is important that the major resource that the Philippines has in abundant numbers, its
population, is used more effectively. These include the physical education and school sports
coordinators in the Department of Education and sports coordinators in the DILG.

1. Educator Enablement

To ensure the efficient use of these resources, the system of Physical Education and school sport
training needs to be restructured to ensure that all teachers have an adequate level of knowledge
of physical education and school sport.

2. Welfare and Passion Preservation

As well as focusing on elite/high-performance sport, the school sport system needs to target the
children who are not talented, so that these children continue to be involved in sport because of
enjoyment either as a participant or coach or official or administrator. Programs which are
concerned more about kids enjoyment of sport and instilling the importance of fair play and
camaraderie could be introduced into the Philippines and help to achieve these goals. A key to
the success of mass based sports programs is people empowerment. This will occur if the
training programs are in place and the recipients can see that their involvement will benefit the
local community. The benefit of further government involve in this training comes through a
reduction in the national health bill.

System Troubleshoot and Upgrade

1. Division of Responsibilities

At the elite sports level there are a range of issues that need to be sorted out. The first concerns
the relationship between the PSC and the NSAs. The dilemma centers round the autonomy of the
NSAs and the degree to which they sacrifice that autonomy if they agree to use taxpayers
money. The PSC must encourage the NSAs to be more responsible and more accountable for the
money they manage and to ensure that they are aware of their broader commitment to mass
sports in the wider community.

For its part, the PSC must seek to place itself in a position where the NSAs view the PSC as a
technical provider and a source of advice. This will only be achieved by having competent and
well-trained staff dealing directly with the NSAs.
2. Fund Reallocation

A further dilemma is that with limited funds the PSC is currently funding too many sports
(around 40). It may be more effective in terms of results, to target a smaller number of sports and
provide them with extra funding required to achieve results. It may also be wise for PSC to target
womens sports that currently receive a smaller percentage of total funding, as this would
increase the chance of success at international competitions.

3. Priority and Funding for Continuous Education and Development

An upgrading of sports science (physiology, psychology, motor control, biomechanics, nutrition

and diet and sports technology.

The current gaps and challenges of high performance sports are generally the same in most
societies with the Canadian experience probably one of those hewing very closely to the
Philippine situation.

a. Information Sharing, Knowledge and Learning there continues to be a view within some
NSAs that our sport is unique, which has led to some resistance in learning from the
experiences of other sports. There is still a tendency to focus on the business of their own sport,
and as a result, opportunities to share experiences and knowledge are often not considered.

There continues to be an approach within many NSAs that does not reflect change and
innovation. They need to do more introspection, critical reflection and serious analysis regarding
their programs, and the development of athletes. Managing knowledge and information
(knowledge economy) is currently viewed as an important strategic direction for many sectors
and sports should be no different.

b. Research, Sports Science and Special Projects the means to use whatever little research
facilities the Philippines has (universities, private groups, military) to create advantages for
Filipino athletes must become a future priority.

c. Funding High-Performance Sport Across all sports there is a lack of a long-term resource
commitment required to consistently be a top-performing nation. Filipino athletes are talented
but do not receive levels of support comparable to other top sporting nations that allows full-time
commitment to training and competitions.

d. Investment in Coaching There has to be long-term commitment to full-time coaches. Many

NSAs support coach salaries through multiple sources, leaving coaches vulnerable to funding
support fluctuations from funding agencies or political shifts within the sport. There must also be
an acceptance of the fact that some sports require specialized technical instruction such as
synchronized swimming, which needs specialized instruction in acrobatics, ballet and probably,
choreography.

e. Centralization, Training Centers and clubs: Cultures of Excellence Some successful NSAs
abroad owe their success to the ability to establish longer term centralized training and/or a
network of training centers and groups. Ideally, the strength of the system should depend on the
strength of the local club (provincial association). The training center should create a culture of
excellence that includes access to world-class coaching, facilities, medical/regeneration support
services, opportunity for cross-training, etc. The PHILSPORTS, created during Chairman Philip
Ella Juicos time, should be the hub of all these training centers or network of training centers.

f. International Competition There is no doubt that athletes need more foreign exposure to
become better. International competition is a particular concern for sports that have a strong
European (fencing, soccer, volleyball, cycling, equestrian, wrestling, rowing, et al) and/or Asian
(judo, karate, taekwondo, badminton, et al) concentration of world-class athletes, teams, and
competitions. There needs to be greater understanding that International Federations are seeking
to have more of these competitions or World Cup events, to determine athlete rankings and
Olympic.

g. Collegiate and Professional Sports Athletic commitments to the collegiate, club, and
professional leagues is a factor that limits the ability to centralize or participate in national team
activities (basketball, soccer, volleyball, et al). Coordinating the scheduling of national team
activities around professional club and collegiate leagues is a challenge.

h. Womens Sport Some countries do not provide equal opportunities for women in sports,
thus, giving advantage to countries that promote gender equity in sports.

i. Talent Identification This is done on a sport-by-sport basis. The PNG plays a crucial role in
this respect.

j. Leadership There is a need for more professional staff and technical experts who are
responsible and accountable for high performance and decision-making part of good
governance.

k. Athlete Involvement They should be involved in shaping the high-performance program.

They can provide tremendous support to establishing future priorities for the sport.