Think about it
Siring national sports champions
By Jun Velasco
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” (bumper sticker)
WE zero in on Governor Spines’ fighting words at his recent press conference where Triple Treat was launched — Pistay Dayat, national Palaro and Pangasinan Day.
We focus on Palaro.
What struck us was the guv’s statement that this Palaro (and no other) “will be the benchmark” of all Pambansang Palaros from here on.
If that boast came from a run-of-the-mill politician, we won’t buy it.
But it came from Spines, who has a track record.
And so the stage is set. The provincial machinery is moving dramatically. With Spines upfront, maybe it’s safe to make predictions. Even if he won’t say it, we have a stake here.
The honor of the province, and our capability to host and manage a national event are on the line.
Let’s do something for the Palaro.. .
Palaro reminds us of an affair sometime back, the dainty island of Guimarras and its tantalizing governor then, our friend Mayor Emily Lopez, also a former congresswoman.
Yes, we were her guest right in that magnificence of her island province which was praised by then President FVR for its “sweetest mangoes in the world.” Pangasinenses were jealous.
While we were cruising Guimarras’ sparkling sea, Emily talked about how she sired national champions in sports. The secret, she said, was an all-year-round program.
At that same time, we also interviewed former Asian chess grandmaster Rudy Tan Cardoso, a native of Alaminos, Pangasinan who concurred that preparation is sacrosanct in producing sport champs.
Then the role of nutrition was cited to underscore the athlete’s fitness and robust health, a sine qua non to winning.
But you can’t have sound nutrition just like that. It will involve the conquest of poverty.
Emily said “Guimarras’ sports program has all the ingredients for winning”
We don’t know if the island province is still at it, but our friend is out of the scene lately.
But the vision, the idea, the strategy are worth studying, eh, sports chair Moding Operana? .
At the conclusion of Emily’s “workshop,” it was suggested the preparation should not only be all year round; it should early, very early, during childhood, if possible. In fact it should start when the child is still in the mother’s womb.
Near to home, Orly Guirao who shares the pride of his provincemates in Ilocos Norte for bagging the regional championship confirms that they won because they prepared well.
And said, as if to slam our local boys, “cramming is success’ worst enemy in any game.”
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