PSC regional training center in North Luzon shapes up
THE best legacy for me is to leave something that will live on after the legacy maker has long been gone
And for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), perhaps it may just be the proposed regional training centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that will achieve that dream.
An initiative by Chairman Dickie Bachmann, this project slowly is shaping up.
I am fortunate that I saw personally how this is getting off the ground in North Luzon, the area that has been assigned to Commissioner Fritz Gaston who I am helping out in my capacity as one of his consultants.
Well, Fritz and I have known each other for more than four decades, and certainly have earned each other’s trust and confidence. I joined him recently in a trip to Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte for initial meetings regarding the project with Governors Jerry Singson and Matthew Manotoc, and Laoag Mayor Mike Keon.
The big picture is the PSC wants to put up these regional training centers to enable potential athletes to stay near their families even as they train.
It is a fact that in the past, a group of young athletes from the South were sent to Baguio to train, but being away from their families and friends , amidst strangers and for some, strange local food, resulted to them returning back to their homes.
Thus was born the idea of regional training centers, a practical idea that is at the same time, involves a lot of hard work and expanded network of other spirts stakeholders. Major ones are the Local Government Units( LGUs) , which will provide the sports facilities, and the Departnent of Education and schools that can give athletic scholarships to athletes.
Our group was warmly welcomed by Ilocos Sur Governor Singson who is an active sports patron and who dabbles personally in a few sports, a big advantage for any local sports program to flourish.
The province too has existing facilities which we visited though they are presently undergoing rehabilitation after a recent heavy flooding, and there are several big schools that can be tapped.
The Governor was very open to the idea of a regional sports training center as it will benefit homegrown talents, and some specific sports have been identified as popular in the area.
From Vigan, we motored to Laoag and had an audience with Ilocos Norte Governor Manotoc, son of Fritz’s former coach in U-tex in the PBA, again, he was open to it and wanted to know how the working relationships will be if ever.
The province has just completed its renovation of its football and track and field stadium and presently building additional sports facilities, again there are many schools in the provibce that can be tapped to partner with the PSC.
Of course the visit there would not be complete without touching base with Laoag Mayor Keon, who even invited our group to dinner at his house and a lunch at his city hall office
With his proven track record with Gintong Alay, the ten straight Ilocos Region Athletic Association( IRAA) overall championship for the province when he was the provincial sports coordinator and Governor in the past, one cannot doubt what he can contribute in terms of ideas and a good talent identification program.
The PSC has long way to go in this initiative, I understand Davao will be the venue in Mindanao, possibly Cebu in the Visayas, and Ilocos region in the North, but then what is important is that the initial steps have been taken.
For me, the tiring trip in a van was worth it.
Sports has been good to me and now in the twilight of my life, I have no plan of dying yet by the way but I accept the fact that age has not been catching up with me, it has caught up with me already.And I am happy to be able to contribute in making this project become a reality in whatever way I can.
Plus of course, I got a chance to see the Mayor again, who I consider a friend already, I just hope he feels the sane way too, and I am sure I will be back there again for the next steps in this big project.
Actually, I have been invited already for the second edition of his sand dune races, which I covered earlier this year in La Paz in Laoag .
Didn’t I tell you that sports has really been good to me , and now, it is pay back time for me.
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