Tabal inspires athletes
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal talked about her challenges before representing the Philippines to the 2016 Rio Olympics during a TED talk with Mindanao Peace Games (MPG) 2016 participants at the KCC Mall Convention Center Monday.
Tabal, who came straight from Cebu City, told some 400 female athletes to never give up until they reach their dreams.
“Madami akong pinagdaanan bago ako nakarating sa Olympics, pero di ako sumuko,” a teary-eyed Tabal shared.
Tabal also showed some pictures from her past races in Canada, Japan and in the recent Rio Olympics 2016 to inspire the female athletes.
Toni Faye Tan, a former volleyball player of the University of the Philippines Diliman discussed her Youth Sports Advocate (YSA) campaign dubbed as “Aspire to Inspire”.
Tan said that YSA is program for the children in the community leading them in the right direction through sports.
“Hindi kailangan ng magarang court o venue para magturo ng mga bata, pwede na kahit pa sa kalsada, doon lang din namin ginagawa,” she said, adding that their former students are currently the ones training athletes.
She then urged athletes to be focused, determined and resilient to achieve their goals.
Celine Simone Jaldon, Girls Got Game Mindanao coordinator, said the GGG program aims to teach girls life lessons through sports.
“We will conduct community-based camps and clinics in different areas in Mindanao,” Jaldon, also an MPG coordinator, said.
She encouraged participants to balance academics and sports as well as volunteer and serve the community without expecting anything in return.
The MPG is being held in partnership with Smart Inc., National Youth Commission, Discovery Sports and Philippine Sports Commission.