ILOILO City – Since its launching in 2019, the Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA), a free grassroots sports program, has been successfully training Ilonggo children to excel in their chosen sporting disciplines.
Last year, the number of medals that this city’s young athletes won in national competitions reached 84 (33 golds, 20 silvers and 31 bronzes). This was almost twice the number of medals they won in 2022 — 46 (17 golds, 14 silvers and 15 bronzes).
Iloilo City’s ranking in the Batang Pinoy or the Philippine Youth Games – the national youth sports competition for athletes under 15 years old – rose to an all-time high of fifth in 2022, compared to only 19th in 2019.
Excelling in national sports competitions and producing champion athletes that will bring pride and honor to the city was the goal of the city government under Mayor Jerry P. Treñas through the Iloilo City Sports Development Division (ICSDD) when it initiated ICSA.
A major initiative this year is the Sports Kickstarter to bring ICSA to seven districts of the city. It is spearheaded by Executive Assistant Raisa Treñas and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation.
It offers free introductory training starting in the City Proper in February to bring sports closer to the barangays and encourage more children aged five to 15 years old to participate.
ICSA covers arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, football, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, volleyball, and wushu.
For this year’s launching on April 20, ICSA has partnered with SM City for the games to be held at the mall including arnis in front of SM Appliance; badminton at North Point in between escalators; chess and table tennis at Cyberzone in front of IStore; pickleball at Activity Center; and taekwondo.
The indoor setting this time is a strategy to escape from the extreme outdoor heat.
ICSA introduces to Ilonggos how to play pickleball piloted at Robinsons Place Jaro in January, and SM City in March.
The Sports Office is targeting to accommodate some 30 participants. Interested parties may visit the Sports Office at the fifth floor of City Hall to fill-up the registration form and secure an identification card.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball with holes. It is a non-contact sport that is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels. It is also a great exercise for developing physical and mental well-being.
The Sports Office facilitated the promotion of pickleball after a group of individuals reached out earlier to formalize an open category tournament with mostly professionals who joined the event.
Sports clinic on volleyball, basketball, badminton, arnis, and chess are also being conducted at the Uswag Gym (formerly YMCA) and brought to the barangays regularly.
In February, Miss Iloilo 2024 Alexie Brooks representing the city in Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and who is also a national athlete, inspired ICSA players at the La Paz district plaza as part of her birthday celebration.
In March, Dalayunan Home for the Boys conducted a basketball clinic in partnership with the Public Attorney’s Office and City Social Welfare and Development Office, supported by ICSDD.
The renovation of La Paz Plaza, the only sports plaza in the city, will pave way for improvements in trainings.
Sports have been a challenge in this age of electronic gadgets that draw children’s attention and focus, resulting to inactive lifestyle, lack of exercise, and health concerns. Thus, the need to bring sports to the community to reach out to more beneficiaries.
This is also a proactive and preventive approach to keep youngsters away from bad vices and negative peer pressure.
Offering a year-round training, ICSA has already produced national champions and winners.
ICSA’s vision is to provide a strong foundation for the Ilonggo teens to reach greater heights through sports. It attracted more than 1,300 athletes in 2022, from only 160 athletes in 2019.
“I joined ICSA to develop my skills and to avail of longer training. My skills improved through ICSA because we undergo daily training,” said lawn tennis player Louraine Jallorina, the first Ilongga PCA champion.
For arnis coach Master Rolen Balajadia, ICSA is a big help to those who can’t afford to pay professional coaches and trainers.
“ICSA program is indeed very effective because through this, we can scout and discover athletes who have talents in different sports disciplines. Once ready, we send them to competitions,” he added.
Jonella Llavore, volunteer lawn tennis coach and ICSA private partner from MORE Electric and Power Corporation, said the training doesn’t only happen on the court, but also outside as “the values that we teach the players are practiced even in their homes.”
The City Government allocates some P5 million annually for the Sports Office to sustain the successful efforts.
ICSA was a national finalist in the Galing Pook 2023 which gave recognition to the best and most innovative local governance programs that exemplify citizens’ participation and deliver positive impacts./PN