QC's new joy for sports

Quezon City is one of the largest cities in the country, by some counts four times the size of Manila. It is one of the richest cities in the Philippines, as well, and has been the site of many historical events that have shaped the nation, such as the EDSA revolution. There are malls, affluent communities, and many of the best schools in the country. However, despite its size, Quezon City has not really been at the forefront of sports development. In fact, Smart Araneta Coliseum is the only large venue for spectator sports, and there are only two public pools in the entire city. Amoranto Sports Complex has deteriorated, and other multi-purpose sports facilities have not been maximized. There have been some steps such as former vice-mayor and now Mayor Herbert Bautista’s “Batang QC” competitions, and the large number of street children being given dance training by the city government through a foundation set up during the tenure of Speaker Sonny Belmonte. Those children are currently performing in Paris on the invitation of a promoter there. 

But all that is about to change and take a leap forward, as the new administration takes sports seriously.

Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte, who created that aforementioned performing arts foundation, is drafting big, long-term plans to make the youth of the city a force to reckon with in sports. Belmonte, a former Jesuit volunteer who later used archeology to foster love for country, has also advocated women’s rights and other issues including the environment to better the lives of her constituents. Since sports is under her office, she is now throwing the city’s considerable resources behind it. She’s already seen its transformative power.

“When you’re with an NGO, you’re always asking for the government’s help,” explains Belmonte. “I realized that, if there was an opportunity for me to be in government and be the one to decide how the funds would be allocated, that would be a good thing.

One of her first projects was the wildly successful Coca-Cola Hoopla held in many barangay courts in Quezon City, which emerged champion. Belmonte is particularly proud of that team, coached by former San Bed Red Cubs mentor Rene Baena, because the players came from less fortunate areas of QC.

“We’re very proud of that team, because we really held tournaments at the grassroots level, looked for players from poor communities, and formed a team,” adds Belmonte, the only daughter of the former mayor. “And coach Baena stressed fundamentals and sportsmanship. So even if other players tried to play dirty, our players did not retaliate. They stayed focused on the game. From the start, we taught them to play the game correctly. We taught them to play as gentlemen.”

That champion team is now actively playing against barangay teams to raise the level of competition within the city, and serves as a blueprint for other sports. As the training and experience take effect, there is nowhere to go but up.

Due to a quirk in timing, the city’s new officials were asked to create budgets for their programs immediately upon assuming office. Since she was a newcomer, Belmonte was not sure what programs would work, and did not have time to initially study them. Now, her staff are collating data from trainings she conducted in 14 different sports, to determine which programs have been the most effective. Now that budget season is around again, she has a clear idea of what needs to be done to harness the city’s youth, who make up almost 60 percent of this massive community’s population. She handles youth affairs, women’s affairs, the environment, the anti-drug abuse campaign, and an education program called “Zero Drop-Out sa QC.” Along the way, sports has also been an eye-opening means of protecting the young people of the city.

“One of the most effective programs we started was the swimming program,” reveals Belmonte. “We partnered with Diliman Preparatory School through Sen. Nikki Coseteng. As we taught kids and the youth how to swim, it developed their confidence, especially during calamities like floods. Now we have a group of youth who are at the frontline. Instead of being the ones needing rescuing, they’re the ones doing the rescuing.”

Her next goal along with Mayor Bautista, is to build sports facilities throughout the city. As she saw when Quezon City played away games in the Coca-Cola Hoopla tournament, other cities have decent, even luxurious basketball venues. The city government is taking a two-pronged attack: building community sports facilities as well as a big coliseum for international sporting and entertainment events. This will be part of a gargantuan development project which will span the government office ringing Quezon Memorial Circle, down Quezon Avenue to EDSA, and all the way to the Trinoma Mall. The city has been processing the return of Quezon Circle to its care, and other properties in the area which will be part of the development.

“I spoke to the Mayor, and he was very receptive to the idea,” says Belmonte. “We’re planning to redevelop Amoranto Sports Complex, and build one nice basketball court per district first. A martial arts academy would also fit into our plans. Basically it’s how the sports program and facilities can fit in with other programs and be sustainable.”

The vision is to make Quezon City a haven for sports, where young people can be discovered, nurtured and eventually represent the city and the country in international sports competitions, then give back to the community. She has seen how other cities in the country and even abroad support their youth in sports, and the impact it has had on their development. Belmonte believes in the power of the youth, and strongly advocates tapping their unlimited potential. And with that and no other agenda in mind, the possibility of her achieving success is only a matter of time. She consults with the experts in the field, and finds ways to give them what they need to create champions out of the city’s children. 

“It’s political will, more than anything else,” declares Belmonte. “It’s also managing the funds well and knowing who to partner with the right private sector groups and getting things done.”