VOLUME 2 No.1 | JAN - MAR 2017 MANILA, PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION NEWSMAGAZINE PSCRelaunches PSIPAGE 4 PSI’s Playground Manila hosts Reliving the to Podium SEA GAMES Glorious Program Baton Run Past PAGE 9 PAGE 14 PAGE 16 January - March 2017 | PSC NEWSMAGAZINE 1 EDITORIAL The CHAIRMAN Speaks hen the Philippine Sports Com- gram of the national sports agency - all these and able production. With your hardwork and perse- PSI, a big hope for mission (PSC) News Magazine was more have been in- verance, this magazine will continue to bridge the conceptualized when I returned as cluded in this PSC to the Filipino sports community. WChairman under the administration of President year’s first Rodrigo Roa Duterte last year, we were all excited q u a r t e r To the readers, be inspired on the stories of our na- about making it a quarterly publication. maga- tional athletes and be fully informed of what your zine. national sports agency has been doing to address PH sports Government protocols, however, such as the te- the directive of President Duterte in bringing dious bidding and procurement procedures I thank sports to the periphery. became the setback that we did not earlier foresee the ed- “There is a big hope for us,” Philippine search Identification (Smart ID) Train the funds be used for Filipino tangible sports in making the quarterly magazine realized. itorial The PSC, with the Board of Commissioners at Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Wil- Trainers Program in key cities in the first even in far-flung areas. board the helm, will continue to strive to live up to its So after two editions released last year, we are only a n d Sports for All mantra. liam “Butch” Ramirez said when the Philip- quarter even as requests to conduct con- coming out with the first quarter edition - four t h e pine Sports Institute (PSI) was relaunched sultative meetings, coaching clinic, sports Thus, with PSI focusing on sports science, months later than its supposed April release. On con- Madayaw! last January 16, 2017 in a fitting ceremony summits, sports science seminars and behalf of the editorial board, we apologize for the tributors high performance training of elite ath- delay of the first and second quarter editions of the for com- William I. Ramirez at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Smart ID Train the Trainers, among oth- letes and strengthening grassroots sports PSC News Magazine. ing out with Chairman, PSC ers, keep coming in since the relaunch. this laud- development programs, Evasco said, “We Rest assured that what happened was just part of The PSC chief said the PSI relaunch was have high hopes that a stronger grassroots the birth pains expected of any endeavor. just the start of bigger and greater things The courageous move by the PSC, under will contribute to the prevention of drugs This new edition is a good read. for Philippine sports although admitting Chairman Ramirez, was lauded by Pres- among the youth, we must precisely engage From the relaunch of the Phil- that the journey has been and will still be idential adviser on sports Dennis Uy and ippine Sports Institute (PSI) our youth. We want them to stay away from rough and difficult. Cabinet secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. who to Olympian marathoner drugs and other harmful things.” Mary Joy Tabal’s quest for both graced the inaugural ceremony that a Southeast Asian (SEA) Indeed, there is hope for the Filipino youth was attended by over 1,000 national ath- Games gold and re- Uy, for his part, pledged to raise P1 billion launch of the PSC Hour in every corner of the country as a lean- letes and coaches, PSI coordinators, na- from the private sector to augment the radio program; as well but-mean team of PSI started planning tional sports association (NSA) representa- as a revisit to the PSC funds of the PSC, particularly in support- Museum, various programs to reach out to areas that were tives, media and other stakeholders. ing the programs of the PSI in the regions. plans and programs never given a chance in the past. of the PSI, gener- Evasco underscored PSC’s full strategic al assemblies of The PSI, with national training director athletes, 27th A PSC caravan toured Luzon, Visayas and thrust in line with President Rodrigo R. anniversary Mindanao to kick off the revival of the Duterte’s plan to bring sports to the coun- Marc Edward Velasco at the helm, may still celebration of be walking baby steps after its rebirth but the PSC, the Physical Fitness and Sports Development tryside. PSC Cara- Council (PFSDC), which was created by Chairman Ramirez and the PSC Board of van and the relaunch virtue of Executive Order No. 63 of former The PSI, according to Evasco, gives sports Commissioners are doing a good job in of the La- President Fidel V. Ramos on March 1, 1993, the institutional support it deserves as a parenting it as President Duterte and his ro’t Saya sa in a bid to help ensure the implementation center of excellence for the advancement of Cabinet are also all-out in supporting the Parke, the Play and of the PSC’s “Sports for All” program. “human national pride in accordance with institute. Learn for the president’s grassroots change”. He also Free pro- PSI also held Sports Mapping Action Re- reiterated the president’s directive that all 2 PSC NEWSMAGAZINE | January - March 2017 January - March 2017 | PSC NEWSMAGAZINE 3 ship, said Evasco. Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy vowed to tap the private sector to raise P1 billion to aug- ment the budget for the athletes. “Philippine sports has many ailments and PSI will be the prescription. It will provide the sports nu- tritionists, psychologists, physiologists, doctors and other medical professionals, as well as top-of-the- line equipment to cater to the needs of the athletes,” announced PSC chairman William Ramirez in his welcome address. Hosted by PSI deputy national training Prof. Henry Daut and Mr. Raul Manlapaz, the highlight of the program was the Athletes’ and Coaches’ Oath of Support to PSI led by Cab- inet Secretary Evasco for the government sector, Presidential Adviser Uy for the private PSC Relaunches PSI sector, Barcelona Olympics boxing bronze medalist Roel Velasco BY MYLENE V. CONCEPCION for the coaches and Rio Olympics weightlifting sil- ver medalist Ms. Hidilyn Diaz Clad in myriad shades of blue, the Multi sig City. Evasco Jr., in his keynote address, under- for the athletes. Purpose Arena bore witness to the finest scored the government’s commitment to hour of the future of Philippine sports. Attendees were treated to a brief introduc- grassroots development with sports as a tion of the PSI through an audio-visual pre- viable tool in turning the youth into pro- As early as 2:00 pm, government officials, sentation by PSI national training director ductive citizens. private sector, the national athletes, coach- Marc Edward Velasco, Kata demonstration es, heads of sports associations, media and by Karatedo and a song number by Imusi- “We have high hopes that grassroots de- other stakeholders came to support the capella. velopment in sports should encourage our Grand Inaugural of the Philippine Sports youth in productive activities, develop their Institute at the PhilSports Complex in Pa- Guest of honor Cabinet Speaker Leoncio inter-personal skills and a sense of citizen- 4 PSC NEWSMAGAZINE | January - March 2017 January - March 2017 | PSC NEWSMAGAZINE 5 conducted in Quezon City, Parañaque City, and other locations outside Metro Manila such as Vi- gan City, Baguio City, Imus, Kawit, Aklan Province, Boracay, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Du- Tabal maguete City, San Carlos City, Davao City, Tagum City, and General Santos City. The program is being implemented under the PSC’s Sports-for-All Agenda. Its legal basis is Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 49 which was signed Gears up by then President Benigno S. Aquino III on July 4, 2013. The Sports-for-All Agenda is geared towards the belief that fitness does not only involve muscles, for SEAG speed, and endurance; it also highlights positive values such as discipline, dedication, and determi- BY KARLO PAOLO R. PATES nation. Sports has helped people overcome unexpected Chairman Butch Ramirez awarding raffle prizes to participant with Mayor Janella Ejercito Estrada adversities and challenges, as well as compliment o aspire to be one of the top Filipino paring for the tough 42k race, Tabal physical fitness and promote character-building. marathoners is indeed never quite an is also conditioning her mind on how Tabal, who earned an automatic slot to the SEA Games easy feat. An athlete must exert relent- to overcome her fears during the race. with her four-peat feat in last year’s Milo Marathon More importantly, Sports-for-All is communi- lessT effort, full-time dedication, and sharp focus National Finals, said her family has been her source Play and Learn: ty-based and encourages maximum participation on trainings as well as willingness to trust the “Iniisip ko kung makakaya ko pa ba yung takbo of strength all throughout her journey as an athlete. in sports among the greatest number of Filipinos. process before all the success can be achieved. (I always overthink whether or not I can fin- As she readies herself for the SEA Games stage, Sports for Free in 2017 Aside from providing accessibility towards sports ish the race),” Tabal, who earned both of her Tabal thanked Jonel Borres and Motorace Phil- by various sectors of Philippine society, it empha- This is the dream that the Philippines’ Bachelors degree in Management Accounting ippines for supporting and believing in her.