THE Philippines has closed its campaign at the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships on a high note as Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig and Julia Jewels Pobleto each captured bronze medals on the final day of competition at Boracay Newcoast.
Talosig, who entered the competition hoping primarily to gain international experience, surprised herself with a podium finish in the women’s 20-and-over category.
The 20-year-old swimmer said winning a medal in front of the home crowd made the breakthrough even more special, particularly after entering the race without expecting to finish on the podium.
Pobleto also delivered a bronze for Team Philippines after clocking 50 minutes and 40 seconds in the girls’ 12-13-year-old 3-kilometer event.
Thailand’s Kanchana Konsub won the gold with 47:16 clocking, while compatriot Aliyah Sawangmun claimed silver with 49:48 time.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the tournament’s biggest impact went beyond the medals, highlighting the opportunity for more than 40 Filipino swimmers to compete at the international level on home soil.
“If we don’t host them here, how can we bring 40 athletes to the other countries? Suwerte na siguro lima o 10,” said Gregorio.
Gregorio added that hosting international competitions gives more young Filipino athletes valuable exposure while also promoting sports diplomacy and friendship among participating nations.
“Gagaling at gagaling lang ’yan kasi international-level competition ang sinasalihan nila,” Gregorio said.
The PSC chief also pointed to the interaction among athletes from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore following the competition as another meaningful outcome of the event.
“Yung sports diplomacy at friendship, talagang hindi mo matatawaran ’yan. Napakagandang regalo ’yan para sa kabataan,” he added.
With Talosig and Pobleto’s bronze-medal performances, the Philippines wrapped up the four-day competition with another pair of podium finishes while giving dozens of local swimmers the rare opportunity to test themselves against international competition on home waters. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
The post Talosig, Poblete claim bronze to cap PH campaign at SEA Open Water Swimming first appeared on Fastbreak.
THE planned transformation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex is set to become part of the Marcos administration’s broader effort to find new and long-term solutions to Metro Manila’s worsening flood control problem.
After President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. identified Rizal Memorial among the possible sites that could be used for floodwater storage and retention, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the PSC is ready to do its part.
Gregorio stressed that the President’s directive is for government agencies to work together as the country faces increasingly severe flooding brought by heavier rainfall.
“We have this problem because of climate change. Ang sabi ng Pangulo, sabi ng MMDA, makipagtulungan lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno. Nandiyan po kami sa Philippine Sports Commission kasi challenge po sa amin ’yan,” said Gregorio.
The PSC chief said the proposed flood-control component will be incorporated into the larger master plan for Rizal Memorial, which is currently being developed in coordination with government agencies and private-sector partners.
“Talagang iyung master plan, ginagawa na po namin ’yan. ’Yan po ay isang major project ko na sinimulan ko a few months ago and we will start soon,” he said.
Gregorio said the PSC has been holding meetings with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the City of Manila and the SM Group to identify specific areas within the complex that can be used to help manage excess rainwater.
“Panay po ang meeting ng DPWH, SM Group, City of Manila para ma-master plan natin iyung Rizal. Kasi we have to identify places and spaces kung saan puwedeng maglagay ng mga catch basin and mga cistern tanks,” Gregorio said.
Among the areas being considered are spaces in front of the baseball and football fields, the baseball field itself and an area beside a creek that is being cleared.
“Marami na po tayong available na space diyan. Iyung harap ng baseball and football field, mismong baseball field, and the area that we will clear beside the creek, mga 4,000 square meters po ’yan, na iki-clear natin para magkaroon tayo ng catch basin din.”
The PSC is also working with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and the SM Group on elevated walkways around Rizal Memorial, which Gregorio said could help athletes and residents move around the area during flooding.
“Para po ma-solve yung konting ulan, pag bumabaha, naka-elevate na po iyung walkways para sa atleta at para sa mga taong nakatira diyan sa Rizal,” he said.
The Rizal Memorial project forms part of the government’s wider study of potential floodwater storage and retention sites across Metro Manila, following President Marcos’ call to explore additional measures to complement existing drainage systems, pumping stations and other flood-control infrastructure.
For Gregorio, however, helping address flooding will not come at the expense of Rizal Memorial’s development as a premier sports facility.
“Give it 12 months. The transformation of Rizal Coliseum will be fantastic. It will be world-class,” he added.
With President Marcos pushing for a whole-of-government approach to the flood crisis, Gregorio said the PSC is positioning Rizal Memorial to serve a dual purpose providing Filipino athletes with improved facilities while becoming part of a larger effort to control and manage floodwaters in Metro Manila. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
The post PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio backs PBBM’s flood control plan first appeared on Fastbreak.
