PSL sets norm for grassroots sports: Service with a heart

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ failure to win a medal in the Asian Games since 1998 and the Olympics since 1924 is due to a lack of a middle level training for swimmers.

There is no “grassroots training” leading to the Olympics or Asian Games because the “production process” stops along the line before the child reaches 16. If there’s one, the result is a raw or half-baked product, good for the interclub or  barangay level.

The Philippine Swimming League realized this and embarked on a program designed to support the common goal of parents, their children and their coaches to produce champions out of young boys and girls.

They saw many problems on their lap – like the lack of swimming facilities, the cost of training which averages P120,000 a year, lack of government participation and coaches to run the project nationwide, the cost to organize competitions or seminars without outside help and the fear of reprisal from the national swimming association, which is recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and International Swimming Federation (FINA).

The PSL had a simple program to start the ball rolling – produce a network of coaches and conduct competitions on a regular basis to encourage swimmers to improve their time and help them, step by step, on their way to Olympic glory.

The PSL last year organized the Philippine Swimming Coaches Association, an independent organization whose mission is to train coaches and provide a financially viable career path for former national swimmers and club coaches.

Competitions have since been held on a regular monthly basis, with a grand final in December.

The monthly tournaments include the first UP Varsity Team Sprint Meet in January, NCRAA meet and Nubdabai Swim Cup in February, the first Mayor Nilo Leyble Invitational Swimming Cup in Antipolo in March, Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. Swimming Invitational and Mayor Edward Hagedorn Swimming Challenge in April, DPS-PSL Motivational Swim Meet in June,  Mayor Tony and Emie Calixto Rubiano Swim Meet in July, Councilor Dino Chua meet in August, CSSC Goodwill Swim Championship in October, PSL-DPS Motivational competition in October and  the University of Bohol Competition and Congressman Omar  Ebdane Swim Meet in December.

It also holds quarterly championships. These are the All-Stars National Student Swim Challenge in March, the second Nikki Coseteng Championships in May, 2012 Finals All-Star National Student Swim Challenge in August, the 2012 All-Star Regional Swimming Circuit in September and the third Nikki Coseteng Cup in November.

Its calendar of competitions includes competitions in Southeast Asia and Australia. The PSL has sent swimmers that have performed creditably with fellow age groupers in the Stingrays International in Hong Kong (May), eighth Singapore International (August), the Fujian-Phl friendship dual meet and Shanghai long course meet (November) and the Bangkok International (December).

Organizing 12 to 15 regular tournaments a year doesn’t come without sacrifices.

Susan Benasa, PSL secretary general says: “I have been doing volunteer work for many years in dentistry, and if I do community services, everything is provided – dental supplies, medicines, even food, the clinic by itself is made available –  but in swimming it is very hard.  Nag-volunteer ka na, ikaw pa hahanap ng venue, medals, trophies at pagkain mo, ikaw pa gagasta. My salute to Susan Papa, she is one in a million. She deserves help from those who can.”

Papa and her fledgling PSL also attracted coaches’ attention.

“She gives everyone exposure, I have been a member of PASA  (Philippine Amateur Swimming Association) but I have never experienced going to international competitions,” says coach Emer Matienzo of the Bosay Antipolo swim team.

“Kung walang Susan Papa, wala na ang swimming ngayon,” said technical director Edgar Galeno.

Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng saw the viability of the PSL program and offered to help. She spearheaded the Nationwide Unity Swim in 2010 and constructed an 18-meter pool at the Diliman Preparatory  School for the purpose of breaking the Guinness record for a 24-hour non-stop swim. Eventually, she included swimming in the school curriculum, employing PSL coaches.

“Kakaiba ang PSL, they really move to survive. One time Susan Papa saw bags in my office and she asked me if she could have them. I gave them only to find out she had competition abroad. She put some markings on the bags at ibinenta para magkapera para sa pamasahe nila going to the competition venue. Kaya I am really helping PSL, ako na ang nanghihingi sa mga kakilala ko para sa kanila,” she said.

“Can you imagine we went to China for a goodwill meet. We first went to Xiamen and then Fushou.  To have 26 delegates, it is very impossible as it can cost them easily close to a million. But PSL did it through parents’ contributing less than P15,000. Many really made it and it was such a wonderful experience,” she added.

“On the other hand, one parent was complaining to me that under PASA they where charged P41,000  to compete in an Asean country. I think being just and fair makes the difference for PSL. That is the reason many are joining their competitions, local and abroad. Kaya masarap talang tulungan at ipanghingi, it is just worth it,” she added.

After the birth pains, the PSL had gone even stronger with the support it got from the swimming community.

With PSL secretary general Susan Benasa, a dentist, and former Sen. Coseteng, and lawyer Ma. Luz Arzaga-Mendoza, a former national swimmer, they form the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines. She later organized a new one, the Philippine Swim League.

The PSL’s immediate objective is to prepare young swimmers to earn a swimming scholarship in schools that are members of the UAAP, NCAA and other leagues. From there they could get farther training that could prepare them for national  compeititions.

Its recent accreditation as national sports association of the Federation of School Sports  Association of the Philippines this year came as an added boost for PSL as it could now coordinate swimming activities on the collegiate level.

A component  of its grassroots mission is an outreach program designed to give the poor and underprivileged the joy and experience of swimming.

In February and March, PSL coaches trained Quezon City youth to swim under the Champs for Joy of QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte. Some of the graduates in this summertraining have graduated to become inter-club competitors.  It had also trained street children from the Community Center for Christian Transformation and students from public schools.