TRUE to his role as the country’s No. 1 sportsman, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday spent a major portion of his State of the Nation address focusing on sports, health and fitness, highlighted by the forming of a comprehensive national sports development program.
“Bubuo tayo ng bagong pambansang programa para sa sports development. Uumpisahan natin ito sa paaralan pa lamang,” said Marcos in Filipino during his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
“Ibabalik natin ang mga sports club at mag-sasagawa tayo ngpalaro at lahat ng intrams sa mga publikong paaralan,” he said, adding this would be done through the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“Magbubuhos tayo ng buong suporta sa mga palaro at mga atleta. Halimbawa ang Palarong Pambansa at ang Batang Pinoy Games na gagawin sa General Santos City ngayong Oktubre,” he said, referring to the national sportsfests for student athletes and age group standouts, respectively.
He said with these initiatives, “ang ating kabataan ay maaagang namumulat sa sport, humuhusay at tumaas ang kumpiyansa.”
The President said this will inspire them to follow in the footsteps of world-class Filipino sports talents such as popular fighter and former lawmaker Manny Pacquiao, weightlifting Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hydilyn Diaz, Paris Summer Games double gold medalist Carlos Edrie Yulo and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.
He also cited national para athletes such as Paris Paralympic Games veterans Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom and Ernie Gawilan as positive role models.
“Isama na natin ang ating bagong (boksing) kampeon PNP Chief Nic Torre,” said Marcos, smiling, referring to the no-show over the weekend of Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, who had challenged Torre to a public fistfight at a makeshift ring at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
He noted that these sports standouts had given much to make the country proud on the global sports stage.
“Kilalanatin ang mga ating mga atleta na umani ng karangalan para sa Pilipinas. Hindi lamang sila nakahatid ng buong kasiyahan sa buong sambayanan, pinalakas pa nila ang ating pagmamahal sa bayan,” Marcos said, “at lalo pang pinatingkad ang dangal ng bawa’t Pilipino.”
The President also called for the physical fitness of Filipinos in promoting an active lifestyle, urging local government units to spruce up and open their public spaces for health and sports-related activities.
He also announced that along this line, the PSC would open its track ovals at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Philsports Complex and at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City for free and open to the public for health and fitness buffs.
