After 30 years, the Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sport event for student-athletes from 17 regions in the country, is back in Cebu City. To the participants and guests from all over the country, welcome to Cebu. I wish you a pleasant and fruitful time in our beautiful island!
Beautiful is an understatement when describing Cebu. I always take pride in telling visitors here that they can enjoy the tropical seaside or mountain views just a little over 20 minutes from the bustling city center. Perhaps that may no longer be accurate due to the heavy traffic, but Cebu still has the one of the most accessible geographical and built urban features in the country.
It was back in 1994 when Cebu City last hosted the Palaro. At that time, I was a college student at UP Cebu, which served as one of the venues for the soccer (football) games. Having been a football player in school, it was a moment I truly savored, as I had the opportunity to watch national-quality matches featuring some of the best student-football players in the country.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has assured that Cebu City is ready for the Palarong Pambansa 2024, stating that everything is now in place. Cebu City has also activated a price monitoring team to ensure that no one takes advantage of our athletes and guests, who have been observed buying various food products and souvenir items for which Cebu is famous.
With this, I wish the organizers success, and may we all put our best foot forward to make this Palaro a successful event for both the participants and our guests.
Part of putting our best foot forward is also showing our best behavior. An important aspect of this is how we conduct our politics and public affairs. For example, perhaps only spoken about in hushed tones is the role of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama during the week-long tournament that Cebu City is hosting. The mayor is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension in connection with the investigation into the alleged failure to pay the salaries of four city employees.
It has been reported that Rama has “stayed involved in the preparations for the city's hosting of the Palarong Pambansa, visiting billeting quarters himself and interacting with organizers and guests.” I hope that matters such as these will continue to be handled with sensitivity, and that, at least for this week, we will make efforts to stay and appear united.
I believe there is no harm in involving Mayor Rama in the event, especially considering that he deserves to be invited due to his role in securing the hosting for Cebu City. As a matter of courtesy and fairness, due recognition should be given to Rama. Besides, a preventive suspension is not a penalty. It does not in any way remove elected officials from their mandate, although they are prevented from fulfilling it by legal necessity or procedural fiat.
I digress. However, returning to the Palaro, from this week until the tournament’s closing next week, we celebrate competitive youth sports. One can never underestimate the role of competitive youth sports in nation-building. Activities like this are always worth our time and investment.
Sports and other forms of physical activity promote a sound body and mind. Watching our youth compete in sports and test their wits and physical stamina is always a vibrant sight. Young people from all over the country interacting through sports also contribute to national unity by enriching their experiences with diverse cultures from other regions, as well as promoting social harmony and discipline.