RP swim league gains headway

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Philippine Swimming League, a confederation of swimming clubs whose aim is to upgrade swimming from the grassroots level through regular swimming meets, expressed elation over the progress of young swimmers and the support the Philippine Sports Commission, parents and coaches are throwing behind the nationwide program.

“We are moving in the right direction, thanks to the support of our national coaches, the parents and the various swimming clubs who realize the need to develop young talents,” said Olympian Susan Papa, who organized Saturday’s national age group swimming meet at the Rizal Memorial swimming pool.

Lawyer Ma. Luz Arzaga-Mendoza, president of the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines, said the league’s age-group series is in line with the PSC’s grassroots development program.

“The PSC wants to go to the very root of the problem – the lack of a nationwide effort to train young swimmers – and regular, possibly weekly competitions are what we need to bring youngsters to the swimming pool, and from there help them go to the next level,” said Mendoza.

Papa said she saw a lot of potential swimmers who can be developed under the program.

Among the upcoming stars from the meet were Moira Pilapil, Mark Joseph Capa (6-under), Ana Marie Ibarra, Aki Lorbes and Kyle Libat (7-8), Paula Cayanan, Troy Zamora (9-10), Ana Marie Rojo, Jose Antonio Suntay (11-12), Delia Angela Cordero, Alfred Maglabe (13-14), and Dennise Juliet Cordero, Jeje Tolentino (15-17).

“ASAP will help them and will organize a training program that also aims to train coaches all over the country,” said Papa, adding that part of the swimming meet program in every locality is a free coaching seminar held by national coaches.

“We want to bring back the glory of swimming in our country and attain international prestige. We should start winning again in the Asian Games and make a decent finish in the Olympics like in the 60s and 70s,” said Papa, a national butterfly swimmer four decades ago.

The league had conducted all its nationwide age-group competitions for free at the Rizal Memorial pool, which PSC chairman Harry Angping makes available for free in support of the program.

The league manages to keep organizational costs at a minimum also because of parents, coaches and donors who contribute the medals and officials who volunteer their services.

Among the outside donors are Growee vitamins, Darren Evangelista from Davao, Fil-Am Sonia Papa Baltazar and TV producer Theresa Alvarez.

“We volunteer to help, we want Susan Papa to continue her mission in swimming and we don’t want it to go to waste,” said ASAP treasurer Elizabeth Mascardo.