Champion province

THE sporting stage is set for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa which Pangasinan is proudly hosting this year.

The province’s successful bid to be the venue for the national games is sweet victory for the administration of Gov. Amado Espino Jr., which prioritized and spent for the reconstruction of the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center, built in 1995 when Pangasinan first, and for the last time, hosted the Palarong Pambansa.

Complementing the restoration of the facilities, Espino has also been promoting sporting activities and supporting athletes as part of his vision of making Pangasinan a major sports hub in the country.

But the provincial government can’t do it all on its own, especially in terms of ensuring an intensive and consistent training program for young athletes around the province. Local government units and the academe including both public and private schools must now take the cue from the Capitol and put sports excellence as a priority goal. That means, among other things, that LGU and school leaders will have to do more than allotting a small amount of their funds for seasonal competitions. It takes a village and a year-round commitment to nurture champions.

There is plenty to gain from sports development: our youth will be discouraged from illegal vices and mature with valuable lessons on sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline; economic benefits from the hosting of sports events which extends as a tourism opportunity; and that invaluable prize of a deep sense of pride in being Pangasinense.

*     *     *     *     *     *

‘There’s work in the office’

MANNY Pacquiao is, indeed, of a different breed.

After defeating Juan Manuel Marquez by a majority decision on Sunday, November 13, he told his TV interviewer in answer to a query of what he’d do next:  “I’m going home.  There is work to do in the office.”  Would his fellow 26 congressmen present that night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas have thought of that had they been asked the same question?

Pacquiao had just completed a grueling 12-round battle with Marquez and yet, he still had the fortitude to think about his work in the Congress. Lucky indeed that our country has produced a world sports hero in Pacquiao.

But luckier is Sarangani in particular to have a congressman, busy as he is already in reaping honors for the country overseas, who keeps his constituents close to his heart wherever he is.

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments