THE Covid-19 pandemic not just ravaged the whole country and prompted the people to stay indoors but also changed their own way of living. Industries were affected and even classes were suspended, even the local sports stage did not escape from the wrath of the global scourge.
“The pandemic destroyed every plan that we have for the youth and for the people,” said Van Halen Parmis, the Athletic Director of Tagoloan Community College and prime mover of the budding Tagoloan Sports Grassroots Program that birthed last year. Having put the municipality to the spotlight for their extensive sports development, grandiose commercial basketball tournaments and the support they have given to their athletes, Parmis expressed his dismay on the current situation.
After a very impressive performance in making Tagoloan as the sports capital of Northern Mindanao, the threat of the pandemic abruptly halted and erased the slated Palarong Pambayan supposedly to happen this summer which is envisioned to gather more than a thousand participants from the 10 barangays of the municipality.
“We did not know when this pandemic will end, but I am looking forward for a better program under the new normal environment, we were still waiting for further announcements when we'll be able to start again, as for now we are closely monitoring our athletes and are hopeful that this pandemic will end as soon as possible. Maybe we will be trying to have non-contact sports tournaments first whenever the ban is lifted, still conforming to the local and national guidelines,” said Parmis.
This may be a bleak season for sports, however this became the time to rest from all the hard work and prepares everyone for something big that lies ahead.