NOT that I’m trying to endorse anyone in next month’s Barangay and SK election, but if you still haven’t decided on whom to choose in the oft-postponed election, I suggest you go for an athlete.
Or a parent of one.
In the election, and not just this one, a lot of people suddenly become supporters of sports; they put up tournaments and all, sponsor uniforms or put up basketball goals, to convince the voters that they are for sports.
Being pro-sports in the election gives someone the edge, but it takes more than sponsoring tournaments or buying uniforms and goals to know the benefit of sports in the barangay.
However, an athlete who knows the sacrifices needed to excel really knows what it is to be pro-sports, too. And one advantage is, most of them know when officials who just pay lip service to sports do more harm than good.
Parents of athletes, too, especially those who spend time away from their work to be with their kids, know the benefits of sports. They’ve seen the benefits first-hand.
In a way, athletes, too, know how to manage their time well, splitting time between practice and school. And managing time well is what is needed in both the SK and Barangay, right?
Of course, this is not to say that all athletes do this well and will make good leaders. We’ve all had the experience of athletes who can’t seem to do anything right off the field.
Why is being pro sports important, by the way? Simple. Conducted the right way, sports can transform lives and being pro sports means barangay officials are more likely to take advantage of ongoing sports programs rather than wait for the next election before getting active in sports.
For Cebu City, there are the various sports clinics conducted by the Cebu City Sports Commission that are currently being held in public schools. They also have martial arts and arnis clinics, which tanods will find useful. They have clinics for chess, and an official can easily hold a barangay-wide tournament after holding such.
So, if you haven’t decided yet, try to check the backgrounds of the candidates and see who among them have athletic track records.