THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hopes to see more outstanding women in sports in the mold of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, golf champion Yuka Saso and the World Cup-bound women’s football team.

PSC women’s oversight committee chairperson Celia Kiram said the groundwork needed to sustain a long-term development program aimed at promoting more women in sports “is already there for the next sports leaders to follow.”

Speaking at the special “Women’s Month” episode of the “Sports On Air”, Kiram said she is confident more female athletes would excel beginning in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi on May 12-23 all the way to the 2024 Paris Olyympics.

“I am very happy to say that there are now more women actively participating in sports. In fact, 11 out of 19 athletes who represented our country in the Tokyo Olympics are women. Of course, our first Olympic gold medal came from weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz,” said Kiram during the weekly online sports forum.

“It’s not a gender issue to me. Ayaw ko namang magkaroon ng competition ang mga kalalakihan at kababaihan. As much as possible, gusto ko nga ma-sustain yun progress whether lalaki or babae. Pero we can all agree that more women are now into sports. Mas madaming kababaihan ngayon ang nag-e-excel,” added Kiram, the only female PSC commissioner.

Kiram said PSC officials, headed by Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, made the promotion of women sports a top priority since taking over in 2016 up until their final days in June, 2022.

Kiram said the hard work to promote women sports development continues until the end of their term of office in the government sports agency on June 30.

“Actually, ilang buwan na lang kami sa PSC. Tatlong buwan na lang. Pero yung mga naka-lineup na programa namin ay patuloy naming ginagawa hanggang ngayon.”

Rise Up Shape Up

“Meron kaming Rise Up Shape Up weekly show na ginawa during the pandemic at nakikita sa digital platforms sa Facebook at YouTube. Ibinangon namin ang mga kababaihan during the time of the pandemic at binigyan sila ng inspirasyon. Binigyan natin sila ng mga payo na pang-mental, emotional at physical. Gayundin ang mga inspiring stories ng ating mga kababaihang atleta, coaches at mga stakeholders sa sports.

She said the Rise Up Shape Up program is a huge success that the PSC is now doing follow-up shows.

“Maganda ang naging feedback nito kaya patuloy namin ginagawa. Tinatapos namin itong series na first quarter from January until March 31. And then bubuuin ang 2nd quarter hanggang June. We have 52 episodes in the first quarter and I think we’ll have another 30 episodes for the second quarter.”

Gintong Gawad Awards

Another notable project iniatiated by Kiram is the first-ever Gintong Gawad Awards.

Eight categories — Ina ng Sports, Babaeng Tagasanay, Kabataang Atleta na Abled and Disabled, Huwaran ng Komunidad, Sports Managers, Top LGUs — will be selected by a panel of judges, according to Kiram.

She said nominations for the second batch of Gintong Gaward Awards are also now underway.

“Ngayong March, nagbigay na kami ng mga letters sa lahat ng mga LGUs asking them to submit their entries. Ang gusto ko sana bago kami mawala sa PSC by June 30, makapag-bigay uli kami ng Gintong Gawad awards,” added Kiram.

“Ang dasal ko nga na sana ang susunod na hahawak ng oversight commission ng Women in Sports, ay ipagpapatuloy ito kasi nga katulad ng sinabi mo, napakaganda nito.”
Added Kiram: “Actually, pagpasok ko pa lang sa PSC at ako ang pinahawak ng women in sports, gusto ko talaga magkaroon ng isang recognition para sa mga kababaihan sa sports, lalo na yung mga nasa far-flung barangays natin.”

“Sa mga elite athletes, madaming nagbibigay na ng parangal katulad ng sa media, pati ang PSC. Pero wala pang nakapag-isip na bigyang parangal yun mga nasa grassroots. Nung una sabi nga ng staff ko hindi namin kaya kung kami lang. So we coordinated with the DILG and LGUs. With God’s help, yung 15 LGUs na target namin, naging 40. Dumami talaga ang nahikayat. So, dito sa second edition, baka lumagpas pa sa 50-60 LGUs ang mag-participate.”

“Kahit ako nagulat sa mga entries ng mga LGUs, na dapat natin kilalanin mapa atleta or coaches. May mga kababaihan na masyadong talented na may mga imbensyon na magagamit sa sports. Mayroon din mga nanay na lima ang anak sa national team. Imagine papaano nila binigay ang kanilang suporta, panahon at pinansyal sa mga anak nila para magkamit ng karangalan para sa bayan.”

“Meron din na atletang babae na inspirasyon sa kanilang komunidad. She’s only a minor. She’s less than 17 years old pero ang kuwarto niya, punong-puno pala ng mga medalya, local at international. Meron din tayo na sports manager na pinaganda ang takbo ang sports nila sa Iloilo. Kung napanood ninyo yun episode sa Rise Up Shape Up, meron din isang guro na ibinigay ang kanyang panahon para lang mahikayat ang kanyang mga anak sa sports.”

There is also a special award for the top-performing LGU.

“Akala natin PSC lang ang gumagastos, pero madami din tayong LGUs, gaya ni Gov. Amado Espino ng Pangasinan, na talagang gumagastos para sa sports development ng kanilang lugar,” explained Kiram.

Kiram also talked about the “Teach Me Wrestling” program in Bicol.

“Inumpisahan ito ng isang lalaki kasi nga ang Women in Sports doesn’t mean only na babae ka lang. We are into gender equality.”

Women’s Martial Arts Sports Festival

Another female-oriented project being pushed by Kiram is the Women’s Martial Arts Sports Festival, which started during the time of former PSC Commissioner Akiko Thomson.

“This is one project started by Comm. Akiko, na ipinagpatuloy namin sa PSC. Nag-umpisa ito mga 300 entries lang, pero ngayon may 2,000 participants na. From that competition, madami na ding umakyat sa elite level. Sa muaythai dati walang babae. Pero dahil sa WMASF, ang dami na ngayong babaeng kasali. Ganun din sa karate, taekwondo, arnis, boxing, judo pencak silat at wushu. Yun mga NSAs nakapag-uuwi ngayon ng medalya dahil sa mga kababaihan galing dito.”

Asked about her vision for Philippine sports even after the end of her term at the PSC, Kiram called for more women participation in sports.

“As we all know, sports is always a male-dominated world, especially in basketball, boxing and football,” explained Kiram.

“But we have to continue to encourage more women to get into sports. Kailangan talaga mas madami tayong kababaihan na maglaro ng sports alinsunod na din sa IOC (International Olympic Committee).”

“The same thing with the leadrlership. Sana magkaroon ng kahit 30 percent participation ang mga kababaihan sa bawat NSA. Sa PSC Board, ako lang ang babae. Sa POC Board, iilan lang din ang babae. Sa NSA, kokonti din lang.”

Funding should also not be a problem in promoting women sports.

“According to law, five percent of the income ng PAGCOR, they will remit to the PSC. Maganda naman ang suporta nila, kahit ngayong panahon ng pandemic. Alam naman natin na madaming pinag-gagamitan ngayon ng pondo. Karamihan napupunta sa health or calamity response ng pamahalaan,” explained Kiram.

“Kaya sana, mas gumanda ang kita ngayon ng ating PAGCOR para mas madami tayong matulungang atleta. Nakita na naman nating yun resulta ng mga natutulungan nating atleta, lalo sa competitions abroad. Talagang nakapag-uuwi sila ng medalya para sa ating bansa.” with reports from Gab Ferreras