But the country is hauling them from somewhere. From Malaysia where the Philippines bagged some golds in figure skating and in singles in lawn bowling.
Thanks to the Philippine Lawn Bowling Association and Rosita Bradborn who won in the 3rd Asia-Pacific Merdeka Indoor Bowls Championship.
Bradborn, a native of Angeles City, bested other players from Australia, Canada, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and host country Malaysia.
She went home with the proverbial bacon last Monday where she was welcomed by Congressman Carmelo Lazatin, PLBA President Rey Pineda, and other Filipinos and foreign players of the sport also called "bowls" who are based in the Philippines.
Proud as he is of the sports feat, Lazatin said the sport gets a big boost with the victory in Malaysia.
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Some boost indeed. Without prejudice to whatever that's going to be accomplished by the Philippine delegation to the Beijing Olympics, the government should really rethink our country's sports programs.
Pineda shares this sentiment. He said the Philippines should perhaps revisit policies and re-channel its resources in the national sports program.
"There is gold, silver, and so on in this sport. There is so much honor we can give to our country in lawn bowling," said the jubilant Pineda as he and other sports aficionados welcomed the Philippine lawn bowling team.
Unlike what the country spent from its own coffers for the Olympics, the government did not spend any money for the victory in Malaysia, yet it is reaping the honors as Bradborn competes next in the world championships in Scotland.
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The government should really consider what particular sport it should fully engage today's youth. The Philippines is a basketball-crazy republic, yet this sport is dominated by the Americans and the Europeans on the global front. We are also equally crazy in boxing where we have better potentials, yet our professional boxers like Manny Pacquiao could not compete due to international policies that ban pro boxers in the quadrennial games.
Sports like lawn bowling, thus, should be pursued, should now be developed. This sport, no matter how new to our sights (although this sport's beginning can be traced to as early as the 13th century), can make our athletes excel in the global arena.
It is good that the PLBA is creating that awareness for the sport. Pineda said they have already made representations to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education. Soon, we will be seeing more of this sport being played in some schools as Pampanga and Angeles City will serve as pilot area as a result of this initiative.
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Happy birthday to former CDC President Levy Laus, chairman of Laus Group of Companies, and to his kumpadre Rene Romero, president of Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who are both celebrating their birthdays this month, along with my beautiful daughter Allysa Anne.
Bossman Levy and the equally good-looking Kong Rene (who both seem not to age at all) could not probably complain about what they have and have not in life. I just wish them good health, peace of mind, strength and wisdom in all of their undertakings -- in business, family, etc.
For my daughter, I pray that she grows up in fear and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
