Dinagat builds path from island talent to national colors

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands — On an island long celebrated for its natural beauty and rising economic success, a new vision is taking shape, one that stretches beyond tourism and development and into the national sporting arena.

For the first time in its 36-year history, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) went to Dinagat Islands, underscoring what provincial leaders believe is the beginning of a transformation that could produce the country's next generation of national athletes.

PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio recently visited the province to personally inspect the sports development initiatives of Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr., a former national karate team member and multiple-time national open champion, who has set his sights on turning Dinagat into a regional training hub for combat and individual sports.

“I personally witnessed that Dinagat has a solid sports program and I believe 100 percent that with the vision of Governor Nilo, the province can really develop national athletes,’’ said Gregorio.

The PSC chief went out of his way to visit Dinagat despite the PSC’s busy schedule of hosting the ongoing World Surf League Championship Tour Philippines Pro in Siargao and came away impressed with what he saw.

Dinagat’s ambitious program centers on karate, wrestling, kickboxing, and pencak silat, disciplines in which the province has already begun producing medal-winning athletes despite limited facilities. The province is likewise hoping to build a steady program for tennis, swimming and track and field, among others.

Yet while talent exists, Governor Demerey acknowledges that athletic potential can only go so far without the infrastructure and technical support required to compete at the highest level.

“Aside from the physical ability and talent, you need facilities and trainors and coaches to excel. This is the true meaning of sports development because our players truly come from the barangays,” said Gov. Demerey.

“Dinagat can become a center of sports because it's an island with less or no distractions at all and they cannot leave the island easily. The children are disciplined because there's hardly any internet here,” added Demerey.

Standing atop a sprawling 12-hectare property overlooking Melgar Bay, Gregorio was shown plans for what could become the centerpiece of Dinagat's sporting future: an international-standard track oval that may be paired with either an athletics field or football pitch, alongside a proposed Olympic-size swimming pool.

Those aspirations found a willing partner in Gregorio, who was accompanied by Philippine Aquatics Inc. board of trustee and Dinagat consultant Dick Carmona, who has been helping champion the province's sports development plans.

“I promise to be back, and I assure you that we will deliver the boxing ring I committed to Governor Nilo as we explore ways the PSC can support the proposed 12-hectare sports complex, including the planned track and field oval,” said Gregorio, drawing cheers from provincial and local government officials.

Upon arriving on the island, Gregorio was welcomed by PNP Provincial Director Lt. Col. Glen Sampaga, Governor Demerey, and local officials in a ceremonial reception that highlighted the significance of the PSC chairman's visit.

Dinagat, just an hour by boat from Siargao and the country’s next potential surfing hotspot, has only three tennis courts in the entire province, yet it produced a Palarong Pambansa bronze medalist. Its karate program, established barely five years ago, has already yielded medalists on the national stage.

“Sports is the great equalizer. Walang mayaman, walang mahirap pero ang nagbebenepisyo yung galing sa kahirapan. Bago ka lumaban para sa bayan mo, ang lagi mong iniisip ay lalaban ako para kay Mama, para kay Papa, para sa probinsya ko, para sa bayan ko,’’ said Gregorio.

“Iyan ang importante na maisip natin kapag nag-sports ang mga anak at kabataan natin.”

Three athletes from karate and pencak silat are currently aspiring to enter the national training pool, while kickboxing continues to thrive through regional success. Wrestling, another growing discipline, now boasts a development pool of 50 young athletes.

“We know we are capable now of sending our athletes to the national team precisely because of the sports programs that we have,” said Demerey.

“Sports should make you who you are in the fight for life. If you compete in sports properly, you will be able to compete in life properly as well,” added Demerey.

For all of Dinagat's natural advantages, the next step in producing national athletes will require modern facilities, qualified coaches, training equipment, and sustained grassroots programming, ingredients that have elevated sporting communities throughout the country. (PSC pool story)

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