Thursday, June 26, 2008 Speak-out: Rejoinder to SK's 'Palarong Pambayan' report
GREETINGS...
I have a rejoinder on the article of Mr. Rey Navales on the issue regarding the SK Palarong Pambayan 2008 (Volume 13, No. 117 dated June 25, 2008), calling for the stoppage of the said tournament.
The disqualification of Poblacion was maybe a bit harsh, which I think the Organizer had decided that Poblacion will play its remaining game against Sta. Ines and Sapang Biabas about the earlier decision to disqualified the whole Poblacion team had yes affected the standing where in the two teams Sta. Ines and Sapang Biabas was awarded a win.
Before the decision was made, the standings were as follows: Dau leads the standing at 4-0, followed by San Francisco 3-1, Sapang Biabas 2-2, Sta Ines 1-2, Poblacion 1-2, and San Joaquin 0-4.
With the standings, San Joaquin is already out of the semis and only Sta. Ines, Poblacion and Sapang Biabas are contesting the last 2 semi slots to join Dau and San Francisco.
As for the stoppage of the said tournament, it is not the solution.
I, for one, have questioned the age eligibility of some players from other barangays and their residency requirements.
I have filed protests regarding overage players, one against Bundagol and another against Sapang Biabas (the voleyball tournament has it own share of overage player, I think). All we need is to find a solution to this practice of putting overage players in each line-up. What we need is to come up with a systematic way to avoid it, like screening all participants and requiring them to submit original copies of their birth certificates.
And in case a player never appears at the screening level, he/she will not be permitted to play in the tournament.
And lastly, to all barangay officials, we should all be honest regarding the eligibility of our players. It is our responsibility to oversee the composition of our team being fielded in a competition.
As for our Sangguniang Kabataan today, it's unfair for the SK if we call for the stoppage of the tournament. It's their first major undertaking and this is their first test. Let them be reminded that there are mistakes and indecisions being committed and that this will be a lesson for them. This will enable them not to repeat the same when they hold the next Palarong Pambayan.
The last thing the SKs need is rejection. They are energetic and active. All they need is our guidance and support. More power to the SK. Keep up the good work.
As reporter, it is a duty that you should have taken each side on the said controversy, not only those of a few you have talked to, before writing it. Maybe it would help a lot to clear the controversy if the sides of the Tournament Organizers, the committee, and the referee were also presented by allowing them to give insights about the said decisions or about the tournament.
Thanks and more power to you.
Hon. Edgar A. Halili
Punong Barangay
Sta. Ines, Mabalacat
