A golden leap starts with self-belief and national pride

The double gold medal win by Filipino gymnast Carlo Edriel Yulo at the Paris 2024 Olympics has the whole nation beaming with pride from ear to ear, from Aparri to Jolo. This achievement follows the country’s first gold at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, won by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

It is indeed a pleasant surprise that the Philippines has secured another gold in two successive Olympics, ending a long drought since its first participation in this quadrennial sports event at the 1924 Summer Olympics, which also took place in Paris.

What changes have occurred in the country since our first participation in the Summer Olympics in 1924 that have made us suddenly a gold medal contender in the Olympics? Is it the improving quality of our sports development? Have we finally made great strides in talent spotting and development? Have national policies in sports, including incentives and grassroots development, improved significantly over the decades?

These factors I mentioned still leave a lot to be desired, according to sports experts in this country. In fact, we have won just three gold medals so far after a century of Olympic participation (that count may increase after I write this, with more gold medal contenders set to compete this week). Those three gold medals, along with several other medals won over the decades, do not make us a world power in sports. Still, you've got to hand it to our athletes who have achieved this unprecedented status for our country.

So, what has changed? For me, considering all the logical factors that contribute to our success in sports, what really changed over recent years is our confidence as a people. In this regard, much credit must be given to our world boxing superstar and sports legend, Manny Pacquiao.

I’m not sure if it's just me, but I have observed that before Manny Pacquiao broke stereotypes and barriers in the world of boxing, there was a pervasive sense of insecurity and lack of confidence among Filipinos regarding our sports achievements. This self-defeatist attitude was compounded by inadequate government support, downbeat talk about our own athletes, and a general tendency to expect disappointments.

But Manny Pacquiao gradually changed all that. Seeing him at the top of the world, admired by elites in sports and royalty from every sector and corner of the globe, made us Filipinos rethink: we actually do have what it takes to be world-class.

I have always believed that Filipinos have much to contribute to the world, especially if we clean up our acts and unite. To illustrate, consider a notable cultural trait we possess. Germany is known for engineering, giving rise to the term 'German Engineering.' The US is celebrated for its innovation, hence 'American Innovation'; Japan for its precision, and so on. Filipinos, on the other hand, are renowned for our caring nature, aptly captured by the term 'Filipino Care' --a phrase that uniquely fits Filipinos in the medical field and no other nationality.

To excel in other fields and industries, we just need enough confidence in ourselves. This should be coupled, of course, with other factors that have helped athletes like Pacquiao, Diaz, and Yulo succeed: an excellent support team, determination and hard work, and opportunities awarded based on merit rather than dynastic patronage.

With a population of about 112 million and a youthful demographic, the Philippines could become a world power not just in sports but also in innovation and other fields, provided it successfully empowers its young workforce into a major driver of the economy.