Spirituality, character underscored

SPIRITUALITY and character formation were underscored in the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Sports Institute (PSC-PSI)-organized Barangay Sports Education Forum held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Flordelito "Dodong" Cagampang of Barangay Governor Vicente Duterte, Agdao District, who is also the head coach of Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings, said Pastor Tony Lumactod's topic made him realize that spirituality will enable athletes to obey.

Cagampang is also upbeat that the initiative of PSC and PSI to hold the seminar and the Summer Children's Games 2017 is just the beginning of grassroots development in their barangay.

"Pasalamat ta sa PSC kay diri gyud nila giuna sa Davao city. Pareha karon nga sa Davao del Norte nga mas nindot ang ilang program. Na imbis kita ang dapat mutudlo sa ilaha, kita na karon ilang ginatudluan. Pero pasalamat ta sa PSC kay di pa ulahi ang tanan (We thank the PSC for bringing this program to the city first. Davao del Norte already has a good grassroots sports program and they are sharing it to us instead of us teaching them. We thank the PSC because it's never too late for us)," the veteran coach said, adding that the program will make a big impact in barangays when managed properly.

PSI Davao del Norte coordinator Giovanni Gulanes tackled the province's grassroots sports program, highlighting its gains so far.

Tamugan barangay councilor Vicenta Gutierrez, for her part, said the right values must begin with the leaders who will teach the children.

"Lisud pud magtrain ug mga bata unya wala ta kabalo kung unsa kinaiya sa leader. Dapat ang lider naay kaalam, kahadlok sa Ginoo ug may gugma sa mga bata (A good leader has knowledge, fear of God and love for the children)," Gutierrez said. She also said that a successful sports program must start with the leaders.

Roy Espanueva, barangay captain of Barangay Baguio, said the seminar is a useful tool to develop the sports program for children in every barangay.

"Dugay nako nahimong opisyal pero kani pa lang nga lecture ang akoang pwede ma-share sa barangay ug unsaon pagdala sa mga bata labi na sailahang behavior ug attitude sa sports (I've been a barangay official for a long time and this is the lecture I can share to the barangay especially in handling children's behavior and attitude)," Espanueva said.