By tradition, special awards and citations are given to outstanding sportsmen and women every year by the sports media. Nationally, the Philippine Sportswriters Association (yours truly is a member in good standing) hands out the “Athlete of the Year” award to the best Filipino sportsman/woman who has achieved the most outstanding performance for the previous year.
As of this writing, three world champions – Carlo Biado (billiards), Krizziah Lyn Tabora (bowling) and Jerwin Ancajas (pro boxing) – are being considered. If IBF light fly titlist Milan Melindo wins his unification bout with WBA champ Ryoichi Taguchi, he could also be included in the list for the most coveted sports award.
I remember for a time there used to be a Davao SCOOP (Sports Communicators Organization) that handles this activity with long-time Davao City sportswriter Lito delos Reyes at its helm. However, for reasons beyond our ken, the local sports award-giving body temporarily ceased its existence.
I have suggested its revival to Delos Reyes and the chap is agreeable that outstanding Davao athletes who have given honor and pride to the region and the city be consistently cited every year.
There are, of course, a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out.
First, is the leadership totem pole. To revive it, sportswriters must hold a re-organizational meeting to designate officers that will serve in interim capacity until formal elections for such are held.
Second, they need to draw up plans and proposals to secure corporate sponsorship for a weekly sports media forum; and
Third, to get its own media center (office) for accredited members to congregate and exchange ideas.
Davao City and Region 11 as well have been excellent spawning grounds of the country’s national athletes, a fact that should inspire and motivate all concerned sectors, the sports media particularly, to single them out annually during the award-giving ceremonies.
I am pretty sure local government officials and LGUs will welcome this development as only the sports media are vested with the authority and credibility to determine the athletes eligible and deserving to receive awards and citations for their outstanding performance the past season.
Today, as the illegal drugs trade has almost menacingly engulfed the entire nation and its innocent youths with us virtually made ignorant by the previous regime, it becomes more incumbent on the part of the LGUs to exhort the young men and women in their area to channel their inexhaustible energies to sports.
Thus, the local sports journalists here become traditional partners in youth development even if this were only an implied expression of their craft. As the media continue to chronicle sports achievements, aspiring athletes with hitherto hidden potentials could surface and emerge to become stars in the horizon.
Assuredly, sports can make our young people become future productive citizens.
They will become peace-loving because they will know that war disrupts the full development of a growing, young individual. They will appreciate the cross-cultural harmony that sports bring into their lives; that no matter what your creed and ethnic origin, you are still the same human being as they are. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Psalm 49:10. “For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
