Roadmap to greatness

Tears, goosebumps and shrieks of joy erupted across the Philippines as 21-year-old Alex Eala defeated defending champion and world No. 3, Iga Swiatek, on the grass of Center Court. It was a historic moment, propelling her to the fourth round of Wimbledon. But as we basked in the glow of this gleam of hope, we were confronted with a sobering reality: excellence in global sports is a high-stakes game, and currently, the Philippines is playing with loose change.

The problem with Philippine sports has never been a lack of talent or passion. It is our inability to build a system that allows that talent to flourish. In a typical year, the Philippine Sports Commission operates on a national sports program budget of roughly P800 million. Compare this to our neighbors. Singapore, a nation with a fraction of our population, has allocated as much as P7.4 billion for sports, nearly 10 times our commitment. Thailand spends approximately P14.37 billion annually. For far too long, our sports budget has been treated as an afterthought, forcing our national athletes to become their own fundraisers. We expect world-class results from a system that is underfunded and often delayed by bureaucratic run-arounds.

Even when an athlete reaches the top five in the world, like pole vaulter EJ Obiena, the system continues to fail them. Documents revealed how Obiena was overburdened by administration, forced to front his own money for coaching and medical staff because of the PSC’s inefficient reimbursement system. Obiena had to shoulder P150,000 in bank transfer fees alone because he was being paid in pesos while training in Europe. He did not choose the module of payment for his team, he was forced into it. When our best athletes have to spend their training hours worrying about liquidating receipts, we are not creating champions. We are creating stressed-out accountants who happen to be world-class athletes.

Consider Marlon Stöckinger, the first Filipino to win a Formula race in Europe, including a prestigious victory in Monaco. He had the driving skills to be “the one” for the Philippines in Formula 1. However, talent is only half the equation in F1. And as if we haven’t learned our lesson, Bianca Bustamante, our rising star who raced for McLaren in the F1 Academy, had to privately raise funds for her own career.

The difference in national commitment is most visible in the rewards for victory. Under Republic Act 10699, a Philippine Olympic gold medalist receives P10 million. Private sector even had to step in for our gold medalist olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo. While significant, it pales in comparison to Singapore, which offers quadruple the amount for a gold medal. However, we must not fall into the trap assuming first-world athletes have it easy. Even in the United States, where gold medalists receive a relatively modest amount of $37,500, many athletes must juggle multiple sidelines and part-time jobs just to sustain their training. Look at the high-profile switch of athletes like Eileen Gu, who chose to represent China because of better financial and developmental deals.

The tragedy is that we often measure sports only by medals and trophies, when their value extends far beyond the podium. Every successful athlete becomes an ambassador carrying the Philippine flag onto the global stage. Alex Eala’s run at Wimbledon did more than inspire Filipinos. It introduced millions of viewers around the world to the Philippines. They shape how the world perceives the nation, strengthening our national image through athletic traits rather than diplomacy alone. Sports build citizens before they build champions. Every peso invested in sports is therefore not merely funding medals, but investing in stronger individuals, stronger communities and a stronger nation.

I have always believed that sports is a vital avenue for nation-building. My commitment to this belief is why I have actively sought to fill the gaps where the system fails. Through the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Foundation, we have worked to create opportunities for young athletes, recognizing that every Filipino with talent deserves not only a chance to compete but also the support and opportunities needed to reach their fullest potential and proudly represent our nation.

Sports have always been about more than winning games; they are about creating opportunities for young Filipinos to discover their potential. Driven by this belief, I’ve supported the UP Cebu Basketball Team in its debut in the CESAFI tournament, helped strengthen the 7s Football League so that municipalities have more avenues for competitive play and partnered with “Ang Liga,” one of the country’s longest-running collegiate football competitions. Every single aspiring athlete deserves a clear pathway to grow and succeed. Every competition creates a chance to learn discipline, resilience, teamwork and leadership, which are qualities that endure long after the final whistle. If we genuinely want sports to flourish in our country, we must continue building opportunities where talent can be discovered, nurtured and given every chance to reach its fullest potential.

Money is not everything in sports. It cannot teach the grit of the Filipinas football team or the absolute determination of a Carlos Yulo. However, money opens doors. It paves the way for the international exposure that Alex Eala received at age 13 in Spain, which is simply unavailable at home.

The victories of our athletes don’t happen overnight. They are the result of decades of struggle undertaken with limited resources and maximum heart. But as a nation, we cannot rightfully claim a piece of their glory at the finish line unless we also contribute to the efforts that got them there. They can go further and achieve greater feats. We need better grassroots support. Only then do we begin to pave the way for the next Alex Eala.