Cebu gathers steam

A week ago, the Cebu City Sports Commission held its first sports summit to set a direction for its sports program. Over 200 sports officials, coaches and teachers representing the local government, schools, private entities and the Department of Education gathered at Cebu City Hall to sign a memorandum of agreement on plans to create a true and sustainable grassroots sports development program for the city.

“We want to be able to work together with all our stakeholders to make a master plan for sports in the city,” declared Cebu City Sports Commission chair Edward Hayco. “I firmly believe that we can achieve so much, if we just know what everybody needs.”

Hayco and his wife Eleanor gained prominence through a widely successful dancesport program that they started eight years ago. They believed in providing free training for deserving participants. In return, the participants “cascaded” down their knowledge to other members of Team Cebu City Dancesport. The results became apparent three years later, when Cebu started dominating national ranking competitions, and was selected to host the first-ever dancesport competition of the Southeast Asian Games in 2005. Even before the opening ceremonies had begun, the Philippines had already secured gold medals in both the Latin and Standard events, providing impetus for the eventual overall championship.

Team Cebu City Dancesport’s exploits did not end there. When they read that Hungary owned the Guinness world record for largest dance class even though Cebu had already had summer programs with more students, the gauntlet had been thrown. With the city government’s backing, Hayco and his team assembled what was by far the largest dance class of all time: 7,770 dancers.

“The city has always supported sports. Now, we are putting some direction in it, so Cebu City can lead by example,” says city Mayor Mike Rama, a long-time sportsman. “We want every Cebuano to be active.

The goals may seem big, but we are determined to reach them. It all starts here.”

The goals seem lofty: overall championship of the Palarong Pambansa by 2013, and an Olympic medal by 2020. Cebu’s Sports Commission has also been doing research on the best sports practices in other countries to fuel their program. Hayco strongly adheres to the 10,000-hour principle explained in writings of noted authors like Malcolm Gladwell.

During the summit, speakers gave coaches lectures on planning competitions, dealing with injuries, and motivating athletes. The commission also revealed the renovation of the San Nicolas sports center, a multi-purpose gymnasium that had been abandoned for over 20 years. The facility sits in a small, poor community area where little children meandered around wearing almost nothing. Now, it is a beehive of activity, involving both adults and children.

At very little cost, the gym had been repaired, and was now the site of free clinics in boxing, chess, taekwondo, dancesport and other sports. All the coaches are volunteers, some of the equipment are donated, and the venue is constantly packed. The sports commission also held a free viewing of the Pacquiao-Margarito fight there. This is the seedbed for the city’s grassroots development program. Hayco made it a point to stress to coaches and trainers that it is not the availability or lack of equipment that makes the athletes, it is the coaching. Without dedicated coaches, even athletes with the best equipment go nowhere.

Hayco also took the time to address a pressing problem in Cebu sports.

The best student-athletes are often poached by bigger schools and even universities or commercial teams in Metro Manila. Coaches were looking for a way to keep their athletes. Hayco’s take was the total opposite.

“If someone pirates your players, let them go,” he urges. “Isn’t that good for them? Why should we hold our athletes back from a better future, if that is what they want? They will not forget where they started. And if people want to know where they came from, you will always be mentioned. That will even help you in the long run, since you trained these athletes to become great.”

The highlight of the event was the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the city government and the various stakeholder groups in Cebu City sports. The plan is to put together plans and the means to initiate or support mass-based programs in several sports. At least 20 sports were listed in the official audiovisual presentation that opened the summit.

Hayco and company have proven that, with very little, Cebuanos could become world beaters in dancesport. Now, he’s trying to translate that into other sports, and has been greeted with a refreshingly high level of cooperation from all concerned.

That augurs well for their lofty plans.

* * *

Watch highlights from the Maskulino Pilipino 2010 bodybuilding championships, and travel features on Lanao del Norte on AstigTV.ph.

The event, held at the vast Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, was a resounding success. The Asian Bodybuilding and Sports Physique Federation (ABBF) also presented its highest award, the Gold Medal Award, to Gov. Khalid Dimaporo for his support of the sport. Features of the various tourist attractions in the province, such as the spectacular Tinago Falls in Linamon, were hosted by Bidz Dela Cruz, through the support of Mayor Noel Deano. Mindanao Civic Center will also host an international motocross event on Dec. 10 and 11.