Quijano: We should have more PE classes

Monday, November 28, 2011

LAST week, the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia came to a close without much fanfare on the Philippine end what with our dismal sixth place showing—netting only 36 gold medals.

What’s really distressing to note is that Singapore, with only a population of a little over five million, finished ahead of us with 42 golds.

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To recall, during the 2009 Laos SEA Games we finished fifth with 38 gold medals, while Singapore was at sixth place with 33 golds. Not to denigrate our Singaporean brethren of course, but to me it’s just a numbers thing. Being the 12th most populous country in the world, we simply have a bigger talent pool.

PLATITUDES. I hope by now we have realized that we cannot get by on sheer talent and athleticism alone.

Not all of us can be Manny Pacquiaos, and so the rest of us mortals should be able to rely on a sustainable and effective training program, funded and supported by both the government and the private sector. Hell, even Pacquiao trains like hell for his fights.

Mere rehashed platitudes you say? I completely agree.

I concede that minor steps have been undertaken to address these issues, but they just seem woefully short in the face of such a seemingly insurmountable quagmire.

PE SUBJECTS. But here’s a suggestion our government official should seriously look into: Have Physical Education classes every day, or at least three times a week instead of the tepid once-a-week schedule we have in place.

If we are to forge ahead with reforms, we should have a complete overhaul of our approach towards sports. To do that we have to re-examine and re-evaluate its value towards how it contributes to a better society.

Like it or not, selective training programs for those who exhibit proficiency in a particular sport will only be a fleeting, stop gap, band-aid measure.

Such an approach does not take into account the vast talent pool that could be nurtured and tapped through a continuous approach. Some talents take a long time to nurture and develop. We’ve had enough of flash-in-the-pans.

Sports teaches and instills discipline among children, instills the value of fair play and sportsmanship, fuels the fire for competitiveness and most of all, builds a happy, healthy nation.

How can we do that if we give physical education its parsimonious once-a-week treatment?

A GOOD START. If you want to go grassroots that’s how you start. It’s not a cure-all but it’s a huge first step in addressing what ails our sports programs.

When I was in primary school, I did fairly well in academics, but nothing could compare the exhilarating rush I felt when PE class came. I truly regretted that it came only once a week, as I relished the chance to play basketball, soccer, run, sweat, laugh and have a good time with my classmates.

Come to think of it, it’s quite hilarious for us to wax poetic about winning that elusive Olympic gold when our school children are given only an hour of PE a week.

By relegating sports to the bottom rung of our attention, we are foregoing the opportunity to develop world-class athletes.

Who’s to say that lurking underneath that polo and khaki combo of a grader was the genetic composition of a world-class athlete--a predisposition sadly dulled by a total apathy towards physical activity?

That child could have been a potential Olympic medalist, but because he only had PE once a week, and he was constantly being badgered by his teachers about doing well in other subjects, he had to forego his athletic instincts in favor of other academic pursuits.

Perhaps he instead became an engineer, a doctor (or heaven forbid, a lawyer) when he could have been a hero.

Imagine a nation of school children actively involved in sports daily, coupled with a focus on medal-rich events such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics.

That’s how you overhaul a sick sports program.

I’m not saying it’s a panacea to our medal woes, but I guarantee you that we will have happier, healthier and stronger kids. That’s how you groom potential world-beaters, and yes, you heard it first from the Last Round.

LAST ROUND. It’s on little cherub Juana Heyrosa who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)