NEGROS Occidental has been the seedbed of the country’s top softball players as shown in the long list of titles won in the Palarong Pambansa and the number of Negrenses who wore the country’s uniform in international meets.
The Negrense softbelles also won the silver medal in the 2017 World Series Softball Tournament held in Delaware, USA.
The province hosted numerous local, national and international softball tournaments like the Philippine National Games and 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Softball Championship.
Last week, Little League of the Philippines (LLP) district administrator Jose Luis “Jolly” Gomez alongside assistant administrator Chito Gonzales were in the province as guests of the Inter-Farmers Softball Tournament at the Hacienda Lourdes Ballpark in Manapla town.
“I’m very happy to see the new field established by former Mayor Manolet Escalante,” said Gomez, after seeing the softball facility.
“What impressed me most was that there were already tournaments among the farmers, fishermen, workers, among others, being played in different age groups: kids, men, women, adults, to name a few,” he said.
“This is what grassroots is all about. It’s not just training one team to win the Palaro. Rather it is using a sport to build a community, create an activity of play, and as a natural consequence add to the health and fitness of a barangay. Hats off to them,” Gomez added.
“If we do this in all cities in Negros and in all sports, we will have achieved something more valuable than an Olympic gold medal,” he added.