PSL, DPS to bring message of healthy lifestyle nationwide

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Swimming League and the Diliman Preparatory School have launched a massive program to educate Filipinos on the importance of sports as an economic imperative and hope to spread it to the grassroots.

“Our country is sick – only a sports for all can help alleviate the condition of a sick, corrupt society and lessen our poverty level,” said DPS president and former Sen. Nikki Coseteng.

“The quality of life of every Filipino must improve. We must pursue and attain international respect, honor for our country in sports aside from boxing,” said Coseteng.

Coseteng was referring to a 2010 international survey which ranked the Philippines No. 97 among 190 countries in the “quality of life”, which includes education, life span and income.

The former senator, known in swimming circles as a sports patron and activist, said it’s about time sports are open to all, poor or rich, to improve the standing of the country in the family of nations.

“The government must look into this and invest in sports for the sake of the future. Health is important to the country. Without a healthy and vibrant people, we can’t have a healthy and vibrant economy,” she stressed.

The DPS, which opened its swimming center last year to include swimming as part of the school curriculum, and the PSL, under Susan Papa, have started talks with the Department of Health on the latter’s program of reducing the incidence of the major causes of death – diabetes, heart diseases and tuberculosis.

Aligning its new thrust with that of the World Health Organization, the DOH is deviating from its traditional role of “building more hospitals and expanding more facilities” by adopting non-traditional approaches – encouraging people to go into physical fitness activities.

“Patients should not be overcrowding hospitals if only they are into sports,” said Papa.

Papa, a former Olympic swimmer, noted a sharp decline of the Philippines in sports particularly in swimming where it was at par with Japan in the Asian Games in the 60s and 70s.

“We are an archipelago surrounded by water and have more than 7,000 islands.

Any sport that can be accessed by all will help us achieve good health, discipline and less poverty,” said Papa, adding that these are the objectives the PSL and DPS want to achieve through their nationwide swimming program.

The PSL and DPS have partnered in holding 24 year-round local and regional swimming competitions, four of them major events. Papa said the competitions seek to encourage beginners as well as veterans to continue improving their time through regular practice and encourage others to take up the sport.

One major event is the All-Star Challenge set March 17-18 to choose candidates for the Universiade in Russia in 2013, while the other is the final selection event in August. The two other major events are the second and third Nikki Coseteng Top 16 swimming championships in May and November.

“Sports is a very important element in the promotion of health, happiness and well-being of children and young people,” said Coseteng.

Coseteng, former manager of a PBA ball club, said she advocates not only swimming but also sports in any form.

“Sports inculcates the basic values and life skills and gives those in sports the confidence to respond to events in their own lives and those of others,” said Coseteng. “Our modest goal is to inform, inspire and encourage Filipinos to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and provide a wide range of sports options for persons of various age groups and capabilities. In doing so, we hope to make sports part of the lifestyle of Filipinos.”