I think that Gov. Antonio Rafael Del Rosario has just revealed himself in a new light when he shared with media his vision of transforming Davao del Norte as the sports capital of Mindanao.
It is no empty talk. In fact, it comes from knowing the lay of the land and the knowledge that Davao del Norte province has what it takes to be a venue for top-level sports competition.
Without mincing so many words the governor said that as a true-blooded sportsman himself, sports will be a priority of his administration. And that right off the bat he was looking forward to host the Philippine National Games, the National Triathlon and the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) of course one after the other.
Those familiar with him said this was no bluster. They said the governor is a sportsman himself and that he once headed the sports and youth committee when he represented the province in the House of Representatives. In short, he knows whereof he speaks. Add to that his roadmap for sports and it is not far-fetched one day to see his sports programs ‘running on all cylinders.”
His reasoning: “I always give importance to sports since it is a major component in developing a sound mind and sound body.”
Davao del Norte as the sports capital of Mindanao is indeed a perfect choice. The province today is experiencing unprecedented growth and boom in the economy and by extension, a vastly-improved peace and order.
The time when the province figured time and again in the news for violence and mayhem belonged to the past. Now it is moving on like a well-oiled machine.
You can’t promote sports when gunfire time and again shatters the peace and bloodbath stains the landscape.
Facilities-wise, the province has the 5,000-seater sports and tourism complex beside the Provincial Capitol itself which has just hosted the Batang Pinoy Games. It is spacious and furnished with exactly the facilities to induce athletes to play at their best.
The Tagum City gymnasium is another ace up the province’ sleeve as a perfect venue for taekwondo and karate competitions.
Location-wise, the province is situated in a region that is accessible to all the regions by land, sea and air. And indeed, were the Mindanao railway system becomes a reality in 10 to 15 years from now, it can be easily reached by train from western and central Mindanao. In fact, the feasibility study for the Digos-Davao City-Tagum section of the 1,533 kilometer railway system will be completed this month and there is assurance that work will commence as soon as funds are made available. Change indeed is at hand.
Accomodation-wise, Tagum City has seen an increase in the number of hotels and inns. And that goes for the neighboring city of Panabo and eastward, Mati City itself.
Del Rosario’s initiative to make his province the center of sports deserves this region’s unqualified support.
Sports activities do not only contribute in improving the health of the people as the governor stressed. Sports, like love like music and like belief and faith in the Almighty, alone has the magic of unifying people and communities by promoting sportsmanship, goodwill, camaraderie and brotherhood. In short, it instills respect for others which is probably why the ‘bigger the heroes of the sports are, the humbler they are.”
In a period redolent of sports, the community stands as the beneficiary. Recall the time when one Francisco Rabat and one Loreto Carbonnel spearheaded this country’s international campaign for basketball glory. Called the ‘Rajah of Rebound,” Rabat (who went on to become governor of Davao Oriental) anchored the country’s placing third place in the 1954 world tournament in Rio Janeiro in what was probably the golden age of Philippine basketball.
Both Rabat and Carbonnel have long since joined the Creator but their basketball exploits showed that this region may have its share of sports potentials just waiting for the right time to be discovered.
Let us rally behind the governor in making his dream of making Davao del Norte a sports center of Mindanao a reality.
