The PNG

Today marks the close of the week-long Philippine National Games where more than 3,000 athletes from all over the country competed in different Cebu locations from as far as Naga City to the south to Mactan Airbase and Danao City up north.  Events were also held in air-conditioned comfort at the SM Seaside and at Robinsons Galleria.  Basketball and football fans missed seeing their hometown heroes as these were not included in the lineup of events.  Prior to the opening last May 19, gymnastics and rugby were played in Manila from May 12 to 16.

Cebu City as of this writing is poised to dominate the games, making a killing in the medal-rich athletics events where individual athletes shone with inspired performances. Second running Mandaluyong City have a big catching up to do to grab the lead.  Yes, unless Team Cebu City had fired blanks yesterday.  The Cities of Baguio, General Santos and Mandaue complete the top performing teams.  Surely, scouts had their notebooks filled and smart phones full of photos of top prospects and the promise of better things to come.

The “Olympics of Philippine sports” in the words of PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez indeed opened the floodgates of talents where discoveries were made thereby giving a chance for these athletes to represent the country in future international competitions.

But like in any form of competition, be it sporting, business, electoral or whatever, drama and controversy add color to the game and it make things get even more interesting.

The PNG includes not only student athletes but also members of different national teams from the different cities and provinces of the country where they represent their respective local government units.  The selection process is actually simple – the LGU selects 16-year-old and above male or female athletes to represent them.

But the simple selection process gets complicated because the powers-that-be, a good number of them without even a working knowledge of the sport, play almighty and impose the impossible.

The dirty claws of politics had created an indelible scar in some of the national sporting agencies that looking and hoping for a change is like seeing a city mayor we know and a regional presidential assistant we also know do a delectably seductive tango.  Hastang pastilana jud!

We see deserving athletes left out of the team because a far more inferior wannabe who only looks good in an athletic uniform gets the nod because of connections from above.  In some cases, those already on the team and had been performing well, but for reasons defying sanity had been dropped.   And in every approaching competition, we always hear their crap of ”possible medal contenders.”  With this set-up, participation is an exercise in futility and always with a ready excuse.

We used to be Southeast Asia’s sporting power but through the years had been dropping like chicken dung towards the ranks of insignificance.  Because of these 'padrinos' and 'padrinas' who have distinctly intimidating styles of persuasions, we have an abundance of corrupted athletic programs with instant athletes.   Yet the predictions of medals to be won could make a prophet’s skin crawl. 

The reality is dream big, struggle bigger.  I don’t see an end to this sporting anomaly that even thinking of a solution just might liquefy my brain and I would need more than a box of Kleenex to wipe it off when it oozes out of my ears.