Aeta athletes can eye medals again
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Apr 2019
FIRST, there was the happy news that a team composed of our Aeta brothers was training and competing in races of the Pilipinas Obstacle Race Federation (PORF).
A crew of self-made Aeta athletes from the Villa Maria Integrated School in Porac, Pampanga competed in the five-kilometer PORF obstacle race, where they made a mark.
The event was supposed to be the first of four national team qualifying competitions.
Unfortunately, Obstacle Race was next scratched from this year?s Southeast Asian Games calendar, and relegated to mere demonstration sport.
It was a letdown, but the Aeta team refused to disintegrate.
**
In fact, Alliance Philippines, which has been supporting the endeavors of our Aeta brothers, turned obstacle race into a hunting ground; at the same time giving Aeta athletes the chance to excel in the sport and improve their skills.
The idea was to let them discover new opportunities, while supporting them until they make it to the obstacle race national pool.
The goal of aiming for medals was momentarily set aside.
Then came the great news. Obstacle Course has been restored as a regular event in this year?s 30th Southeast Asian Games.
?Six events that will be held in an obstacle course have been restored following the acceptance of Laos as a fourth country to join the competition,? reported Peter Atencio of Manila Standard.
Laos managed to field athletes in the obstacle course, thereby joining early entries from Thailand, Myanmar and host Philippines.
**
There naturally has been excited focus on the involvement of our Aeta brothers in the national team tryouts. There had been nothing of this sort in the past three hosting by Philippines of the SEA Games.
If at all, the Aeta involvement in the national endeavor should also help open the eyes of the government and other concerned sectors to the pitiful plight of Aeta communities down the dry and dreary Capas mountain side.
A recent special feature on PTV-4 showed how these poor luckless people exist thru primitive means, spending lightless nights in their bare cave-like abode.
Marlon Pia, selfless civic worker and operations director of Operation Liwanag deserves praise and support for anchoring a TV special that bared the impossible existence of these neglected people, who have no electricity in their localities.
Here?s hoping the presence and involvement of our Aeta brothers in the SEA Games team selection would help these poor people gain invaluable support from concerned sectors.
It?s hard to imagine how these luckless souls manage, mainly in dark lonely nights when they rely on nothing but burning bamboo poles for night light.
Maybe Alliance Philippines and other advocates could send a team to investigate, and possibly help out.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canada High: Mikaela Mayer Wins Unified Super Welterweight Crown
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Great Virtues of Champions
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 31 Oct 2025‘HAPPY’ HEAVYWEIGHT THOMPSON READY FOR PERO WAR
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Lakers Sale Approved: Mark Walter Takes Majority Stake, Ending Buss Family Era
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025SBA Season 2 Kicks Off November 10
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025History made twice over
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 31 Oct 2025ORLANDO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND VIDEO: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID BETWEEN LENIER PERO, JORDAN THOMPSON AND UNDERCARD
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Biado, Magpantay enter last 32 round of Qatar World Cup 10-Ball
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Shaw vs Woodward Return for the 2025 Mosconi Cup!
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Mavericks-Pistons ready for 34th NBA game in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Stars of the show
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 30 Oct 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON SET FOR DECEMBER 13 IN LOS ANGELES
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Carcosia to fight Ogawa in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 30 Oct 2025ERISLANDY LARA VS. JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS STAR-STUDDED PITBULL VS. ROACH PPV UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Santiago City in Veraguas, Panama, hosts a historic WBA world championship night
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 30 Oct 2025