Lacson: Starting them young

LAST weekend, my seven-year-old nephew from Baguio City participated in the Amateur Swimming Competition held in New Clark City. After several swimming events, he went home with a bronze medal and his team with some awards as well. I realized that sports professionals indeed start at a very young age, and it is a good thing to know that young athletes in the region have an opportunity to further develop their sports skills with the establishment of the National Academy of Sports or NAS.

Indeed, great things start from small beginnings—so goes the popular theme song of a chocolate drink we all love back in our childhood (and who knows we enjoy until now). We have witnessed a lot of encouraging stories of people who stood up against the challenges of life and became successful and exemplary models whom we all look up to in these times, and even in the years to come.

Take for instance our People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao. We Filipinos still look up at him as a hero, not just for being a boxing champion but because of him being a strong inspiration to everyone that, even from nothing, you can become something only if you believe in God and do everything that you can to achieve all your dreams. During one of his pre-fight press conferences, Manny Pacquiao gave a very powerful and inspiring message which really struck our minds and hearts: “I want to let the people know that there is God who can raise someone from nothing into something. And that’s me. That’s me. I came from nothing into something, and that’s -- I owe everything to God. He gave me this blessing so it’s all credit to the Lord.” I believe that most, if not all young athletes would like to follow Pacman’s footsteps, by grabbing the given opportunities whether small or big to harness and develop their given skills and talents.

During the last Southeast Asian or SEA games, the likes of Carlos Yulo and Ernest John Obiena continue to inspire young Filipinos to pursue their passion in sports and eventually and have a professional stint in their sports of choice. Outgoing Education Secretary Leonor Briones in a speech noted the importance of sports in our Filipino tradition and how sports can "be an avenue for the learners to hone their physical skills to be globally competitive."

So to all the parents and guardians out there, if you see potential in your children in any field whether it is sports or in the arts, then do everything that you can to help them further develop their skills and talents. Not a single athlete in the world, not even the late Kobe Bryant started out instantly as the greatest sports stint are not made overnight.

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