Saturday, December 20, 2008 For the love of Sepak By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
SIPA and sepak takraw are two native Filipino sports that pales in popularity compared to basketball and boxing. To some, they haven't even seen this sport, ever.
Thanks to Nilda T. Sebellino, these two events are still very much alive in Davao City.
As of this writing, the Pamaskong Handog ni Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice Mayor Sara Duterte Sipa and Sepak Takraw competitions are still ongoing at the City Hall Drive with Sebellino and her members at the Davao City Sepak Takraw Association (DACSTA) as technical officials.
She said she got engaged into the sport of sipa when she started work as a public school teacher.
"It's my passion to be in sports, particularly, sipa and sepak takraw. It's just disappointing that my kids don't play the sport where I'm involved in. They're into basketball, really," she told Sun.Star Davao in an interview.
Ma'am Nildz was appointed as local chapter president by the Manila based president of the Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (Pasta) in 2005.
She said since then she initiated organizing Araw ng Dabaw, Kadayawan, Summer League and Pahalipay ni Mayor sa Pasko sipa and sepak takraw events every year.
It was only recently that a sepak takraw team from Davao City got the chance to compete abroad.
She added, "To win a silver medal in the BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games in Brunei was like really winning a gold medal for us. It's a fulfillment."
Ma'am Nildz was born in Tagum City on November 4, 1963 to parents Jose Tabar, a retired government employee, and Sabina Tebar, a retired public teacher.
At age 45, she and husband Sanieto Sebellino, operations manager of Davao Integrated Port and Stevedoring Services Corporation (DIPSSCOR), have been blessed with two sons, 23-year-old Neil and 18-year-old Kevin.
She had been working as a teacher at the Magallanes Elementary School for a handful of years now where she is active as school sports director. She is also president of DACSTA for three years now.
Ma'am Nildz completed her elementary education at the Magugpo Elementary School in 1976 then she went on to finish High School at the St. Mary's College in 1980. She got her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEED) degree also at St. Mary's College in 1985.
She received her diploma in PE at the University of Southern Mindanao in 2001 and MA degree at the Quezon Colleges in 2003. She, however, has yet to complete her doctorate studies at the Southwestern University.
She plans to promote awareness on sepak takraw sport to encourage more athletes to also get into the discipline.
"In my term, I wish to increase the number of sipa and sepak takraw athletes, organize more tournaments including national open events and to form international-caliber Davao City teams. I really want our local players to have more exposures abroad," she said.
She said that she could help Davao teams win more medals in local, regional and national tournaments.
But she was quick to admit, "It's very embarrassing that sipa is a true Filipino game and considered the national sport but most Filipinos don't know it. Our national sport is not getting the support it needs to be known to all Filipinos. We have less support from the business sector."
Despite these setbacks, she vows to generate more enthusiasm for the sport among Dabaweyos and to continue winning more medals for the city of Davao.
