Keep the flame burning

More text messages and e-mail about the 23rd Southeast Asian Games from friends an acquaintances strengthens my belief that there was really something good that came out from hosting six events of the biennial meet.

Was it bringing tourists to Cebu? Not really, but more of opening the eyes of the Cebuanos to the fact that there are many sporting events that we can participate in given the right breaks and the right equipment.

What I have always been hoping to see during and after our hosting of the SEA Games was developing the culture of sports among our people. By such, I mean getting more people involved in sports thus resulting to a healthier lifestyle.

While some people say that the SEA Games was simply meant to bring people to Cebu and spend their money here, I think it is more than that. Yes, there were those who came here to spend their money and spur the economy, but then to me what is most important is seeing our people develop that interest in sports no matter what sport it is.

Of course, I'd like to see the people develop their interest in the sports events that were held here and I believe that it will be very possible most specially if their national organization will do its share.

This early, there is already talk about the City of Cebu hosting the World Sepak Takraw Championship.

Wow! That's a big leap from the SEA Games, but with the support of no less than the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation, it should be doable.

But before we talk of grander things, I'd like to see the sport develop in our locality. Maybe not many of the people know that there were several Cebuanos in the Philippine Sepak Takraw team.

With the University of San Carlos (USC) designated by no less than the ASTF as a training center for Cebu, this is already a running start for the plans to develop the sport here.

I'd like to see more development also on the other sporting events that are not very popular here including judo, which I would say is my most favorite of them all.

While I know that there is a judo community in Cebu, what I still would like to see is that growth that we have long been aspiring.

Would it come soon? I sure hope so and if there is any good time to start, it is right now while the interest of many people who watched the action during the SEA Games is still burning.

It was only during the SEA Games that I got a better picture of what pencak silat is and I believe that we can win more gold medals in the sport with a broader segment of society practicing the martial art.

What I liked best about pencak silat was its emphasis on culture and the discipline of the practitioners. I still have to find out if there is any group that practices pencak silat regularly in Cebu and hope to help them in my own little way develop more players.

I'm sure many of our genuine sports leaders feel the same. I'd like to put emphasis on the word genuine, because there are so many people claiming to be sports leaders with only their self-interest in mind.

There can be a lot of good that can come out from our hosting of the SEA Games with the proper follow through of our leaders.

Let us keep the flame burning and not wait for the next big event before we do anything.

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The annual Christmas Fair of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit will take place tomorrow at the school campus along Gen. Maxilom Ave., this city.

This year's theme is 'Sharing our best throughout this 50 years.'

Entrance fee for non-students is only P10 and all proceeds will go to the less fortunate communities and institutions that SHs-J has been supporting all these years.

For inquries about booths you can call either Vicky Corbes at 0919-3925406, Cynthia Chik at 0917-3238949, or Lilibeth Chu at 0917-5204370.

See you tomorrow!