No stopping Gov. Espino

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

OUR province got the nod from the Department of Education (DepEd) as well as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to host this year’s Palarong Pambansa, which was just concluded. It was through the initiative of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. And of course, without any doubt, it was supported by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan chaired by Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr.

Observers, especially the media, said the annual sports competition was well organized and stupendously done. I agree with them. I observed it much better than the 1995 Palaro, the first time our province hosted the national event for elementary and secondary level students. I doff my hat to the people who helped make the event successful, spearheaded by Gov. Espine.

Well, the athletes’ other enemy was the scorching temperature, something that the hosts can’t control, a perennial problem in the Palaro as it is held every summer time.

Elated by the success of the games, Espine told us during our rendezvous with him last Thursday with my compadre Recah Trinidad of PDI that his staff Butch Velasco and Modesto Operania, PUNCH colleague Jun Velasco and his son Jason are already planning the establishment of the Pangasinan Sports Academy with the promised support from DepEd and PSC. The sports-minded Espine, who used to be a boxer and a champion in the flyweight division during his heydays at the Philippine Military Academy, said the refurbished Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center will play a major role in this plan by serving as living quarters for the athletes who will be trained under the proposed PSA. Espine, who also played wrestling, football and volleyball during his youthful days, mentioned some sports which he wants to be prioritized, those in which we Filipinos could excel in international competitions like boxing, taekwondo, chess, archery, lawn tennis, table tennis, cycling, swimming, track and field, and sepak-takraw to name some. He’s calling some experts in these focused sports to lend a hand, especially from the DepEd’s pool of coaches and trainers who can help in the training of the Pangasinan athletes every summer or during weekends. Yes, the plan is really a fantastic idea and Espine knows it’s a ‘long shot’ to reach our goal.

“We have to start them young and if possible into the senior high school curriculum,” said Espine. “I’m confident that we could produce an international medalist in the near future if we push on this PSA plan.”

Yes, aside from doing good governance among his constituents in the province, I was really surprised to know that the fellow from Bautista town knows a lot about sports, not only in competitions but also the techniques, development and organizing sports activities. You name a sports and I bet you he can explain how to be a good athlete in that. No wonder he’s loved by Pangasinenses. He’s a ‘jack of all trades,’ as the saying goes. And so there’s no stopping Gov. Espine. And anybody who wishes to challenge him next year in the local elections, I guess he has to think ten times first before pursuing that ambition because I believe it will be just a waste of money, time and effort. Let Espine finish up to 2016. Amen.

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My big thanks to our village chair Melchor de Guzman for allowing our village covered court to be used by the SK council during our village mini-Olympic games held May 25-27. Headed by my youngest daughter Raisa as the chairperson, the sportsfest included basketball, table tennis, chess, dama and marathon. Also, thanks to the people who donated the trophies and medals like Engr. Rodolfo Dion, Abraham Yu, Mr. and Mrs. Romel Rapayrapay and Elcid F. Garcia. Mabuhay po kayo.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I’m not of this world. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” JOHN 8: 23-24

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