Reader reacts

This columnist received an earnest and thought-provoking response from a reader who even cited legal basis for sports in the country. Victor Africa, a self proclaimed sports advocate and reformer, sent us a long message in enthusiastic support of our peace on June 24 entitled “Is it worth it?

“May I say that I fully agree with your statements,” he begins. “Sports is truly worth it. In fact, Sports has such a significant and important role in nation-building and country development… our Constitution (Art XIV, Sec 19.1) has expressly put an unambiguous objective for Philippine Sports: “the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.”   

Victor goes on to say that sports leaders must be aware of their higher purpose and mission.

“I go further to also respectfully suggest that all the efforts and activities of Philippine Sports must be related to its raison d’être, such that our sports leaders must appreciate that an answer to “WHY Sports?” is the guide to the “What and How” as regards sports,” he adds.  “Too often, one focuses more on the means and the methods, forgetting the primordial reason for the undertaking.”

Africa continues by restating what this writer often says, that sport is the laboratory for human existence.

“Not only does ‘Sports give life’, .but sports is training for life.’ Sports provides us with constant and continuous opportunities to improve ourselves .. by habitually doing our best .Would that the whole citizenry take advantage of what Sports favors us with.”

It is responses like these that reinforce our belief that sport is not a luxury or a privilege, but a necessity and a right.