Former national athlete Ali Atienza has a piece of advice to Filipinos slated to compete in the coming Southeast Asian Games.
"Always aim for the gold," said Atienza, who graced the 17th edition of Usapang Sports presented by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports Thursday at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila. "The attitude must be ‘it’s gold or nothing.’"
Atienza said sports is not always 100 percent physical.
"Kadalasan diyan mental. Kasi kapag feeling mo matatalo ka sa laban at hindi ka sigurado, huwag ka nang lumaban dahil tiyak na matatalo ka," added Atienza, the country’s lone gold medalist in the 1994 Asian Taekwondo Championships.
"Noong head pa ako ng Masco (Manila Sports Commission) tinatanong ko ang mga atleta bago pa man sila lumaban kung sino sa kanila ang mananalo ng gold. May mga nagtataas ng kamay, 'yun ang mga malalakas ang loob at may kumpiyansa sa sarili. Pero 'yung mga hindi nagtataas ng kamay, 'yung iba doon, hindi ko na pinapalaban," said Atienza.
The Philippines will host for the fourth time the Southeast Asian Games from Nov. 30 to Dec.11, 2019.
Atienza is running for office as Representative of the 5th district of Manila and his main goal when he makes it to Congress is to help Philippine sports.
One of the proposals he wanted to file is to make the Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission an undersecretary of the Department of Education.
"The PSC Chairman will have a dual function. Aside from heading the country’s sports arm, the chairman will also lead the sports program of DepEd in line with the grassroots program of the PSC," he said. "Ang problema kasi ngayon, walang continuity at kadalasan hindi naa-identify 'yung mga batang atleta na may potensyal sa Palarong Pambansa. If the PSC is involved, maa-identify na 'yung mga bata at mate-train ng maayos through PSC."
There is a bill filed in Congress that would create a Department of Sports in place of the PSC, but Atienza said, this would not solve the country’s need to identify and train athletes.
"It would be the same, pinalitan mo lang ang pangalan ng PSC," Atienza said. "Ang kailangan lang naman talaga ay naka-focus tayong lahat sa iisang goal at magtulong-tulong."
Joining Atienza at the weekly sports forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drink were Rep. Manny Lopez, Paul Alvarez, Alvin Aguilar.