TOP SPORTS FAN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. waves to the crowd as he arrives at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City on Monday (July 31, 2023) for the opening ceremony of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa. He was accompanied by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to continue harnessing the country's student-athletes’ talents and sportsmanship to succeed not only in their chosen sports and academic work but in their journey of life.
“I urge the Department of Education to keep harnessing the talents and sportsmanship of our student-athletes. Continue to leverage your reach and resources to provide them with the support, training and opportunities that they thrive on and on which they will succeed,” Marcos said in his speech during the formal opening ceremony of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City.
Marcos assured the government remains steadfast in developing the “prowess of young Filipino athletes and in championing their well-being.”
“We have faith that you will emerge victorious – not only victorious against the challenges in the playing field, in your academic work, but also in the journey of life,” he said.
Marcos said greater school participation in sports competitions will motivate student-athletes not bring the beacon for the country but will also build their character and discipline as Filipinos.
“With consistent and diligent efforts, I am confident that they will eventually bring glory to our nation not only in the field of sports, but also in other endeavors that they will choose to pursue,” he said.
Marcos lauded the student-athletes, coaches and trainers for their dedication to sports which he described as “both inspiring and remarkable.”
“As you take part in your chosen sport, remember you are already champions. And now, you represent your respective schools and localities. Compete with excellence, fairness, and integrity,” Marcos told the student-athletes.
“I am certain that many of our participants here one day, will be watching in international competitions as we have become a force in terms of international sports,” he added.
The President was accompanied on stage by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Matthew Gaston, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo and Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro.
After three years of hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Palarong Pambansa finally returned with a theme “Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag” (A Strong Youth, A Stable Nation). It started on July 29 and will end on Aug. 5.
No extension of Palaro
Meanwhile, the DepEd said it has no plan to extend the 2023 Palarong Pambansa despite the bad weather due to Typhoon Falcon and enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.
In a media interview, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations and Palarong Pambansa 2023 Secretary General, Francis Cesar Bringas, said only the outdoor games will be affected by schedule adjustments, depending on the weather condition.
"For indoor sports, I don't think there's going to be any extension in the number of days. But for the outdoor events, we will be looking at adjustments in schedules based on the rules of these specific games. There's going to be an alternative schedule for that,” Bringas said.
“We will not be extending that long because an extension of more than one day would be costly for the city as well as the delegations,” he added.
Bringas said the city government deployed medical teams in the strategic areas, including the billeting quarters and playing venues to ensure the health and safety of the delegations throughout the event.
He also said the city government will also shoulder the hospitalization of the delegates should injuries and accidents may happen during the games.
Around 7,200 best athletes, coaches, assistant coaches and trainers from the country’s 17 regions participated in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
"But in total, our delegation is a little over 11,000 and that includes all the committees of the different delegations," he added.
PBBM’s support to DepEd
Bringas thanked Marcos for his commitment to continue supporting the DepEd’s education programs under Vice President Duterte who is advocating education reforms “through unity and shared education goals.”
“You know it's very important that we always get the affirmation of the President when it comes to the different programs of the Department of Education," he said.
"This has got to show that it takes a Vice President and a President to lead the direction for the Department of Education for the improvement not only for the academic skills of learners, but their holistic development–and that includes sports," Bringas added. (PNA)
