Pacesetter Vol XLI No. 1 Broadsheet Issue
By Raquel Magtalas, Julianne Siscar and Florence Vila
Defending the toughest athletic fortress in the region doesn’t end with playing one’s game to the heart’s content. It’s gonna be a deal, and a demanding one. It doesn’t really matter, too, whether one started out as a hero or from zero so long as when the game is played, it is played no less than it has been for the last two decades.
All these, for defending a position always dared cross but so far had never even once been shaken in the past. Unscathed, at least, as seen from without. But scars obtained from within the walls of the very same fortress that’s supposed to defend them from enemies closing in is a different story.
A story unheard of, but nonetheless existing. These are the real accounts behind the mighty giant, straight from the heart of the Gold Gears.
“Okay naman ‘yong facilities kaso ‘yong poste ng net namin, hazard e. Nakakatakot. Sepak ‘yong laro mo, baka sumubsob ka do’n. Nakakatakot, nakausli [sa lugar ng practice]. Nakaka-disturb minsan ‘yong Futsal kasi lumilipad ‘yong bola sa amin minsan. Although, MWF naman ‘yong schedule nila, kaya lang lumilipad dito. Kulang lang sa harang.” –Melvin Rodil, Sepak Takraw
“Kung p’wede sana, magbigay sila [COPERS] ng tamang schedule para sa mga atleta. Sila na ‘yong mag-ayos ng schedule namin para hindi na rin kami nahihirapan kasi pinagsasabay na nga namin ang paglalaro at pag-aaral so dapat walang mag-conflict sa schedule namin. Hindi nai-enjoy ang training ng bawat team kasi hati-hati talaga eh.—Aji Legaspi, Softball Men
–Jake Jefferson Doria, Sepak Takraw
“Mahirap para sa amin din kasi [na] mag-practice dito [school] kasi baka maaksidente, e semento pa. Hindi naman lupa. Dapat kasi lupa. ‘Yong practice ko lang dito eh bounding kasi nga semento. Masakit sa binti lang kumpara sa Complex kasi sa lupa ‘yong babagsakan.-- Adrrielle Adam, Athletics
Okay naman sana kasi nakakapag-training naman kami. Kaso mahirap kasi maraming naghahati-hati sa court kaya ‘yong playing time at training e nahahati rin. Supposedly, dapat 5pm to 8pm kami e, kaso nagiging 5pm-7pm kasi nga may basketball pa. – Hermo Galang, Futsal Men
“Kapag wala na talaga kaming magamit bumibili na kami ng bola, nagko-contribute na lang kami. ‘Yong mga bolang luma pwede siyang pang-praktis ng service pero hindi siya pwede sa practice game kasi nakakasira siya no’ng rhythm no’ng palo. Tapos marami kaming raketa na walang string. S’yempre hindi naman po kami mayaman kaya wala po kaming pambili ng string.”-- Aara Myka Mahinay, Lawn Tennis
“’Yong mga laging problema ng mga players, s’yempre ‘di ba mga nagpapagod naman lahat ng varsity, lahat ng athletes. Siguro dapat ibigay nila ’yong nararapat sa amin. Usually kasi ‘di ba issue na ‘yong pagbibigay nila ng allowance, nade-delay ng two months. Nade-delay siya ng June at July. So paano ’yong mga estudyante na do’n kumukuha ng panggastos nila para makapasok?” –Maria Katrina Francisco, Futsal Women
“Sa training namin kasi medyo late na e. Dati from five p.m. kami, ngayon naging seven p.m. na dahil ‘yong iba naming player na may klase hanggang eight p.m. E may mga teacher din kasing inconsiderate. Sana ayusin nila [admin] ‘yong schedule ng training namin para mas makapag-ensayo.” –Dillon Alulod, Basketball Men
“’Yong sa may kinikilingang team na issue, matagal na ‘yon. Hindi pa ata ‘ko pumapasok mayroon na no’n. Ang tsismis, kung sino ang madikit sa director ‘yon daw ang kinikilingan. Parang mas naka-focus siya sa mga team na nag-ii-strive harder talaga ‘yong hindi napapatid [natatalo] ang title.” –Aaron Degaños, Volleyball Men
“Actually kasi, ‘yong futsal women team [ay] nawala sa SCUAA. Futsal men lang mayro’n ngayon, ‘yong sa futsal women, pinag-uuspan pa kung magkakaroon ulit ng event. Kaya ngayon, wala kaming natatanggap na allowance, scholarship kahit nag-summer training kami… Kung wala na talaga, nganga kami. Kaya kami naglalaro kasi gusto talaga namin. Pero wala kaming magagawa. Kung mababalik tapos may allowance mas ayos para fair.” –Futsal Women player
“Wala naman masyadong [request] kasi nabibigay naman ‘yong mga kailangan namin katulad na lang do’n sa sapatos, ‘yong dance shoes nabibigay naman kaya lang kasi ‘yong mga bago sa team kapag may pinaglumaan ‘yon ang nabibigay sa kanila. ‘Yong sapatos na ‘yon, pasadya, kaya mahal pero kailangan din kasi kapag wala silang shoes naka-medyas lang sila. Kapag hindi kasya [dance shoes] pinipilit lang nila katulad no’ng sa isa kong ka-team maluwag sa kanya tapos kapag sira ni-re-repair na lang nila.”John Christopher Dela Cruz, Dancesport
Complaints have been raised. There is smoke within the realm so probably there is fire, or none, but there are answers from the sports administrators regarding the athletes’ concerns.
“Ang ating allowance ay privilege lang. Hindi iyon right. Magkaiba ang privilege sa right. Kasi kung may batas na nagsasabing ang lahat ng atleta ay mayroong allowance tapos hindi binigay, pagtakhan mo na,” said former College of Physical Education Recreation and Sports Dean and now Sports Director Raquel Mendoza.
Mendoza also stated that it is true that problems on sports facilities and equipment are still present. Yet, they are still trying their best to resolve each of it, “Wala tayong magagawa, ayan lang ang facilities natin. Even our PE students may problem sa space. Ngayon ‘di natin ‘yan nararamdaman kasi may class schedule. Ngayon kung kayo ay varsity player that area is very small that is why I’m trying to coordinate outside like Sports Complex and JCAS.”
Moreover, the directress also explained that the matter of schedule conflicts could only be resolved depending on how the players and their coaches or trainers will meet halfway.
“Talagang may conflict [sa schedules]. Kasi ang teacher may schedule, sila may schedule din. Ang coach ngayon, gagawa ng common schedule that is why they have to coordinate do’n sa program para maayos. Sila ang gagawa no’n hindi ako. They are responsible for that kasi halimbawa, ako may klase at that time eh yo’n lang ang available for most of the athletes.”
With regards to the favoritism issue, Mendoza denied the existence of such matter.
“It’s not true. Kahit sa pamilya n’yo sa pamamahay ninyo, ang parents ninyo mayroon siyang kinagigiliwan. Bakit? ‘Yong mga masunurin. Love begets love. Kung iniisip nila na sila ay less privileged, that is not true whatever the other teams are getting from BulSU they are as well enjoying those,” Mendoza ended.
Whatever the case may be, the wounds inflicted outside may or may not run deep but cuts from within tend to be more severe. But the wound, whether it is from within or from without, should be attended to no matter what by those who call the shots in this realm. It’s all part of the deal. And a deal is a two-way street.
Defending the toughest athletic fortress in the region doesn’t end with playing one’s game to the heart’s content. It’s gonna be a deal, and a demanding one. It doesn’t really matter, too, whether one started out as a hero or from zero so long as when the game is played, it is played no less than it has been for the last two decades.
All these, for defending a position always dared cross but so far had never even once been shaken in the past. Unscathed, at least, as seen from without. But scars obtained from within the walls of the very same fortress that’s supposed to defend them from enemies closing in is a different story.
A story unheard of, but nonetheless existing. These are the real accounts behind the mighty giant, straight from the heart of the Gold Gears.
“Okay naman ‘yong facilities kaso ‘yong poste ng net namin, hazard e. Nakakatakot. Sepak ‘yong laro mo, baka sumubsob ka do’n. Nakakatakot, nakausli [sa lugar ng practice]. Nakaka-disturb minsan ‘yong Futsal kasi lumilipad ‘yong bola sa amin minsan. Although, MWF naman ‘yong schedule nila, kaya lang lumilipad dito. Kulang lang sa harang.” –Melvin Rodil, Sepak Takraw
“Kung p’wede sana, magbigay sila [COPERS] ng tamang schedule para sa mga atleta. Sila na ‘yong mag-ayos ng schedule namin para hindi na rin kami nahihirapan kasi pinagsasabay na nga namin ang paglalaro at pag-aaral so dapat walang mag-conflict sa schedule namin. Hindi nai-enjoy ang training ng bawat team kasi hati-hati talaga eh.—Aji Legaspi, Softball Men
–Jake Jefferson Doria, Sepak Takraw
“Mahirap para sa amin din kasi [na] mag-practice dito [school] kasi baka maaksidente, e semento pa. Hindi naman lupa. Dapat kasi lupa. ‘Yong practice ko lang dito eh bounding kasi nga semento. Masakit sa binti lang kumpara sa Complex kasi sa lupa ‘yong babagsakan.-- Adrrielle Adam, Athletics
Okay naman sana kasi nakakapag-training naman kami. Kaso mahirap kasi maraming naghahati-hati sa court kaya ‘yong playing time at training e nahahati rin. Supposedly, dapat 5pm to 8pm kami e, kaso nagiging 5pm-7pm kasi nga may basketball pa. – Hermo Galang, Futsal Men
“Kapag wala na talaga kaming magamit bumibili na kami ng bola, nagko-contribute na lang kami. ‘Yong mga bolang luma pwede siyang pang-praktis ng service pero hindi siya pwede sa practice game kasi nakakasira siya no’ng rhythm no’ng palo. Tapos marami kaming raketa na walang string. S’yempre hindi naman po kami mayaman kaya wala po kaming pambili ng string.”-- Aara Myka Mahinay, Lawn Tennis
“’Yong mga laging problema ng mga players, s’yempre ‘di ba mga nagpapagod naman lahat ng varsity, lahat ng athletes. Siguro dapat ibigay nila ’yong nararapat sa amin. Usually kasi ‘di ba issue na ‘yong pagbibigay nila ng allowance, nade-delay ng two months. Nade-delay siya ng June at July. So paano ’yong mga estudyante na do’n kumukuha ng panggastos nila para makapasok?” –Maria Katrina Francisco, Futsal Women
“Sa training namin kasi medyo late na e. Dati from five p.m. kami, ngayon naging seven p.m. na dahil ‘yong iba naming player na may klase hanggang eight p.m. E may mga teacher din kasing inconsiderate. Sana ayusin nila [admin] ‘yong schedule ng training namin para mas makapag-ensayo.” –Dillon Alulod, Basketball Men
“’Yong sa may kinikilingang team na issue, matagal na ‘yon. Hindi pa ata ‘ko pumapasok mayroon na no’n. Ang tsismis, kung sino ang madikit sa director ‘yon daw ang kinikilingan. Parang mas naka-focus siya sa mga team na nag-ii-strive harder talaga ‘yong hindi napapatid [natatalo] ang title.” –Aaron Degaños, Volleyball Men
“Actually kasi, ‘yong futsal women team [ay] nawala sa SCUAA. Futsal men lang mayro’n ngayon, ‘yong sa futsal women, pinag-uuspan pa kung magkakaroon ulit ng event. Kaya ngayon, wala kaming natatanggap na allowance, scholarship kahit nag-summer training kami… Kung wala na talaga, nganga kami. Kaya kami naglalaro kasi gusto talaga namin. Pero wala kaming magagawa. Kung mababalik tapos may allowance mas ayos para fair.” –Futsal Women player
“Wala naman masyadong [request] kasi nabibigay naman ‘yong mga kailangan namin katulad na lang do’n sa sapatos, ‘yong dance shoes nabibigay naman kaya lang kasi ‘yong mga bago sa team kapag may pinaglumaan ‘yon ang nabibigay sa kanila. ‘Yong sapatos na ‘yon, pasadya, kaya mahal pero kailangan din kasi kapag wala silang shoes naka-medyas lang sila. Kapag hindi kasya [dance shoes] pinipilit lang nila katulad no’ng sa isa kong ka-team maluwag sa kanya tapos kapag sira ni-re-repair na lang nila.”John Christopher Dela Cruz, Dancesport
Complaints have been raised. There is smoke within the realm so probably there is fire, or none, but there are answers from the sports administrators regarding the athletes’ concerns.
“Ang ating allowance ay privilege lang. Hindi iyon right. Magkaiba ang privilege sa right. Kasi kung may batas na nagsasabing ang lahat ng atleta ay mayroong allowance tapos hindi binigay, pagtakhan mo na,” said former College of Physical Education Recreation and Sports Dean and now Sports Director Raquel Mendoza.
Mendoza also stated that it is true that problems on sports facilities and equipment are still present. Yet, they are still trying their best to resolve each of it, “Wala tayong magagawa, ayan lang ang facilities natin. Even our PE students may problem sa space. Ngayon ‘di natin ‘yan nararamdaman kasi may class schedule. Ngayon kung kayo ay varsity player that area is very small that is why I’m trying to coordinate outside like Sports Complex and JCAS.”
Moreover, the directress also explained that the matter of schedule conflicts could only be resolved depending on how the players and their coaches or trainers will meet halfway.
“Talagang may conflict [sa schedules]. Kasi ang teacher may schedule, sila may schedule din. Ang coach ngayon, gagawa ng common schedule that is why they have to coordinate do’n sa program para maayos. Sila ang gagawa no’n hindi ako. They are responsible for that kasi halimbawa, ako may klase at that time eh yo’n lang ang available for most of the athletes.”
With regards to the favoritism issue, Mendoza denied the existence of such matter.
“It’s not true. Kahit sa pamilya n’yo sa pamamahay ninyo, ang parents ninyo mayroon siyang kinagigiliwan. Bakit? ‘Yong mga masunurin. Love begets love. Kung iniisip nila na sila ay less privileged, that is not true whatever the other teams are getting from BulSU they are as well enjoying those,” Mendoza ended.
Whatever the case may be, the wounds inflicted outside may or may not run deep but cuts from within tend to be more severe. But the wound, whether it is from within or from without, should be attended to no matter what by those who call the shots in this realm. It’s all part of the deal. And a deal is a two-way street.