Monday, April 28, 2008 After the games, coaches face new challenge
THE exodus out of Palawan had started and it will be a long and tough task. It may not be as arduous as the biblical exodus, but it isn’t easy either.
Officials, teachers and coaches will be herding the delegation of 600 student athletes back to their respective provinces in Region 7.
There are already athletes and other officials who were not only lucky enough to afford the very expensive flight out of Puerto Princesa, the venue for this year’s Palarong Pambansa, but also lucky enough to actually squeeze a seat for a very scarce flight.
However, most of those who joined the Palaro from Region 7 will have to contend with taking the longer route out—though the sea for four days for their respective homes. The athletes have been away from their homes for almost 20 days to take part in the national sporting meet.
The task for the teachers and coaches may not look as hard if they were dealing with adults, but they are dealing with elementary and high school students, all oozing with energy and all needing to be fed and to be kept safe.
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“It will be hard considering that it takes a long time and we have to watch over the kids,” said Vivian Giñete, DepEd 7 Physical Education and School Sports (Pess) chief.
The delegation left yesterday noon from Palawan onboard Super Ferry. The ship was specially arranged to ship out athletes. Three other delegations, including NCR and other Luzon regions and from Mindanao will be joining the trip.
The true test for teachers and coaches comes in as this will show how they can keep the athletes in line.
“This is where the teachers and coaches’ patience will be tested,” Ginete added.
Giñete said that the kids, athletes at that, tend to become active. On the way to Palawan, kids were everywhere and even on the deck, some jogging, some practicing in preparation for Palaro. This time, kids are just expected to be everywhere.
The Super Ferry will dock in Manila today. The other delegations will disembark in Manila along with some Region 7 athletes, who have business to do in Manila.
“Their parents signed waivers that their kids will be getting off in Manila.
There are some who are taking entrance exams in colleges there and some have other businesses there,” Ginete said.
For some, like tennis players Sallydine and Bernardine Niño Siso, they will be competing in another competition in Manila and will be meeting their mother there.
The rest of the delegation headed South will still be getting off Super Ferry and will check into, not a hotel, but another vessel, Sulpicio Lines going to Cebu, where they will spend the night. It will leave Manila port tomorrow and will arrive in Cebu on Wednesday.
The region finished fourth in this year’s Palaro with 276.17 points next to perennial champion National Capital Region with 638 points, Western Visayas 428.17 and Calabarzon with 410.17 points, which took the top three spots. (MCB)
