University of the Philippines Baguio's (UPB) Tagis Lakas is a reminder of the athletes struggle towards actualization of their needs. It is not just a celebration where the UPB community applauded these student athletes for a day, invalidating their years’ worth of struggle—UPB athletes need actual support, recognition, and funding.
The UPB community honored athletes through the annual celebration of Tagis Lakas which aims to boost the morale of student-athletes last February 7. This year the celebration borne the theme, "We Dare, We Struggle, We fight as One," as a response to the student-athletes' call for genuine support and recognition, as well as funding and prioritization.
And yet, these are still the annual calls of the university's student-athletes. Every year, student-athletes still struggle for their fight towards genuine support during their Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) games. This year, the fight for utmost support and recognition of the UPB community still stands as it only intensifies with the call for equal support of student-athletes across UP system. Equal support must be given by the UP community, Diliman and non-Diliman campuses, with the same energy they give during the UAAP season and during the local athletic season of their campuses. UP Diliman athletes are not the only UP student-athletes. The UPB community must recognize that the efforts these student-athletes exert is the same with those who have playing time on live TV. UPB students should give their loudest cheers during their games in the BBEAL season, and not just during Tagis Lakas.
With the impending budget cuts, funding for athletes is at risk. Aside from minimum support, athletes also receive minimum funds insufficient for their food and maintenance. Not only that, facilities, equipment, and other sports-related supplies for the use are also cut short. Recently, the Himnasyo Amianan, UPB's gymnasium, was launched but it took a long time for the athletes to finally use the facility. The delay of the issuance of the guidelines for the use of Himnasyo Amianan also caused a delay in the training facilities of the athletes. Although these athletes were still able to use the past facilities such as the Court A, perhaps it would be much easier if the UPB athletes have used the gymnasium earlier. Other training aids like tapes and warmers were donated by sponsors to the student-athletes. It is high time for the administration to step up their game with regards to the support of these student-athletes who represent the university with pride. The administration must initiate to the higher ups the funding of these student-athletes. Again, the UAAP players are not the only UP athletes in the community.
Coincidentally, the Sea Games 2019 fiasco reflected how administrations like our government, treat our national athletes and how the government put proper care in the field of sports.
With these calls, it is manifested that through time, the athletes are always the ones who are taken for granted by their community. They play with pride and honor, yet they receive so little support.
Administrations must be in the forefront in forwarding the calls of these student-athletes for their call to support, funding, and recognition is a call for their academic right.
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