Cycling event sa Palaro, ipinupursige

Kasabay sa apat pang sports na kasalukuyan nang idinaraos at nakahanay sa kalendaryo ng Palarong Pambansa bilang demonstration sports, mabuting pag-aaralan ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon ang panukalang ibalik ang cycling sa taunang school-based multi sports competition.

Ito ang inihayag ni DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali noong nakaraang Miyerkules ng hapon matapos ang ginanap na Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing sa pagitan ng mga kinatawan ng lalawigan ng Davao del Norte, ang host ng 2015 Palarong Pambansa, at mga opisyal ng kagawaran sa pamumuno ng kalihim na si Bro. Armin Luistro.

Ayon kay Umali, ang lahat ng 17 sports disciplines na nakahanay sa kalendaryo ng Palaro ay isinasaad at iniatas sa batas na kinabibilangan ng archery, arnis, swimming, athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, tabale tennis, taekwondo, tennis, at volleyball.

Kabilang din sa pinag-aaralan ng DepEd para isama sa Palaro ang sports na biliards, futsal, wushu at wrestling.

“Tinitiyak po namin na ang lahat ng ito ay pinag-aaralan naming mabuti kasama ng apat pang demosntration sports kung kinakailangan at nararapat na isama sa mga event ng Palarong Pambansa,“ pahayag ni Umali.

Una nang iminungkahi at nagpasa ng kaukulang panukala sa pamunuan ng DEpEd ang liderato ng PhilCycling, ang local governing body ng sport sa bansa, sa pangunguna nina chairman Bert Lina at pangulo nito na si Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino para ibalik ang cycling bilang isa sa mga regular event ng Palaro.

Palaro to advance peace in Mindanao

DAVAO DEL NORTE: The Palarong Pambansa 2015 will showcase sports as a universal language that has the power to break down barriers, unite people and foster peace.

The Organizing Committee of the event unanimously approved on Tuesday the peace-themed official logo of the Philippine National Games, with the slogan, “Sports: Breaking Borders, Building Peace.”

Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, Chair of the Palaro Executive Committee, revealed the body chose peace as the main theme of the games, since it has always been the perpetual issue in the Mindanao region.

He said the Committee drew on the inimitable power of sports in promoting the ideals of harmony, brotherhood, solidarity and tolerance.

“Through this year’s Palarong Pambansa, we will show to the world how sports could be a powerful tool in achieving peace,” del Rosario said.

In a separate engagement, the governor hailed the sporting event as a golden opportunity for the people of Mindanao to pull together as one in rallying behind the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“This Palaro will not only glorify sports but will unify all Mindanaoans in rallying the support of the whole country for the passage of the BBL. So we can finally attain the elusive peace in the island,” he said.

The official logo depicts the dominant image of an artistic dove that carries with it an olive branch having 17 leaves representing the regions of the country.

Three flaming tails of the dove stand for the tri-people diversity of the Palaro delegations, emblazoned with elaborate designs of the Muslim artwork okir, fishes that portray Christianity and the beadworks of the indigenous people.

Literally underscoring the logo is the banana leaf that aptly represents Davao del Norte, as the ‘Banana Capital’ of the Philippines.

Del Rosario bared the banana also embodies the resilience of the Dabaonon people, who have constantly emerged stronger and better from natural calamities, “just like the ever-enduring banana plant.”

PNA

Cycling in Palaro sought

THE PhilCycling—inspired not only by the competitive nature of its sport but more importantly its contribution to saving the environment—will push for the reactivation of cycling as a regular sport in the Palarong Pambansa the soonest in 2016.

In a resolution forged during the federation board’s meeting that coincided with the kickoff leg of the Asean Mountain Bike Cup Series in Danao City, Cebu, on Saturday, PhilCycling Chairman Bert Lina and President, Tagaytay Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, and the board agreed the annual Palarong Pambansa would significantly support their grassroots development program centered on finding young talent and developing them into potential national athletes.

But the competitive aspect of cycling is just one of the objectives why the PhilCycling wanted its sport back in the Palaro.

“Cycling is no longer just a sport or a hobby or a form of physical fitness—it is an advocacy to help save the environment,” said Tolentino, adding representations will be made with the Department of Education through Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, the Palarong Pambansa Secretary General.

 “The campaign to use the bicycle practically every day—as a mode of transportation to and from the work place and schools—has gone global and almost every country in the world is one in promoting the bicycle to help halt global warming,” said Lina, considered as the godfather of Philippine cycling, and who bankrolls the annual international multi-stage Le Tour de Filipinas.

Former Tour champion Modesto Bonzo of Pangasinan initiated the move to bring cycling back to the Palaro. He was fully backed by fellow-ex champion Paquito Rivas and former stars Juancho Ramores and Cornelio Baylon, who both started their illustrious careers in the Palarong Pambansa as cyclists during their high school years in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Danao City Administrator Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, the PhilCycling Technical Commission head, vowed to encourage his province of Cebu to help in the campaign and pledged to create a mountain bike program suitable for kids of elementary and high school age.



Source: Manila Standard Today