2017 was a challenging year for Philippine sports, particularly for the national team, who saw action at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Philippines suffered its worst medal finish, picking up 24 gold, 33 silver, and 64 bronze medals, coming in sixth place.
Starting with the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, the Philippines also finished in sixth, but took home 41 gold, 91 silver, and 96 bronze medals. Since then, the country has floated around the same rank, however, the number of medals slowly declined, to 36 gold medals in the following games in Vientiane, Laos; 29 gold medals in the 2013 SEA Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar; and another 29 gold medals in the following games in Singapore.
It has not been since the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, where the Philippines were the overall champions, winning 113 gold, 84 silver, and 94 bronze medals.
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At the start of 2018, I had the privilege to speak with former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman, Dr. Perry Mequi, who called the implementation of the Children’s Games for Peace one of the “most exciting” programs last year.
Mequi added, the PSC-Philippine Sports Institute-United States Sports Academy (PSC-PSI-USSA) Protocol of Cooperation will soon see the long-missed training and preparation of sport academics, technocrats, and scientists.
However, the former PSC chair also discussed the disaster of “elite sports” that have developed under Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco.
“What bears watching is the campaign against sports corruption, initiated by [PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez],” he said.
For 2018, Mequi said the revelation of corruption within the Philippine Karatedo Federation, along with the formation of a foundation to raise funds for athletes, will define sports this year.
“This is an indication of a more direct government involvement in elite sports,” he said.
“[In] this Year of the Dog, change will come to Philippine sports with stronger and courageous [stands by] the new PSC, and its support of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s war against corruption,” Mequi projected.
Hopefully, these calls will reach the concerned national sports associations for the welfare of our athletes and, most especially, our country. We hope all these efforts will be worth it for Filipinos and for the Philippines.
Happy New Year!/JSG, WDJ