Throughout history, Filipino athletes have participated in world-renowned competitions, such as the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and the Olympics. Despite the government's lack of support, Filipino athletes continue to tirelessly represent the country while bearing the weight of the Philippine flag.

Why do athletes go broke?

Funding is an important component for many athletes. Having enough money to attend training camps, work with the best trainers, purchase top-of-the-line equipment, and compete in various competitions, can make or break the future success of those who bear the country's flag in the international arena.

Inadequate funding has long been a source of concern for athletes and sports authorities here in the Philippines. Many experts such as Ateneo De Manila University’s Communication Department Chair and Sports Commentator, Severino Sarmenta, and Former Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia, believe that it contributes to Filipino athletes' poor performance at international tournaments and has hampered the country’s sports development.

In an interview with The Benildean, former Head Coach of the Philippines Women's National Volleyball Team Mr. Francis John Patrick Vicente stated that obtaining funding for elite sports, on the other hand, is challenging. A lack of financial resources can hinder an athletes' ability to compete.

“As a coach, I have to spend a little bit for my athletes because of lack of funds and everything, but I have to understand [that] the line of work I was given was not that high in payment in terms of compensation. That is why there should be stakeholders helping [the team] in such a manner na ‘yung finances itself will be sustainable,” he added.

The harsh reality of the sports industry

There have been many cases where the lack of support from the Philippine government has led to national athletes being forced to gather their own funds for training, food, and travel expenses. For instance, award-winning Filipino skater Michael Martinez was the only Filipino to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He trained on his own, with the assistance of friends, coworkers, and private individuals who contributed to his Olympic ticket and stipend. 

Despite the situation, Herminio Coloma, former Communications Secretary under the administration of late ex-president Benigno Aquino III, claimed the government had not received a letter from Martinez's mother requesting government support for the skater's bid for a spot in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In 2014, the Philippines lost grandmaster Wesley So, one of the world’s top chess players, as he chose instead to represent the United States to pursue more opportunities. After winning gold at the 2013 World Universiade Games in Russia, So was not recognized and incentivized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). He officially became a US citizen in February 2021.

On the other hand, Benilde Business Management student and Philippines' own weightlifting legend Hidilyn Diaz had to turn to social media three years ago to request financial aid and explain her difficulties while preparing for Tokyo 2020. Diaz also experienced being criticized by fellow Filipinos after being accused of plotting to overthrow the president.

Meanwhile, in 2020, the PSC claimed that it provided ₱3 million in training assistance for Filipino tennis player Alex Eala. However, the Eala family has yet to receive "a single centavo" for travel and training costs associated with her participation in the Grand Slam and other tournaments outside the country.

As a result of continuous government cutbacks, sports programs in the Philippines continue to be underfunded. According to Lemuel Deinla of the Institute for Nationalist Studies, the government's initiatives aim to extract the most value out of the limited resources available, reimbursing only a small percentage of the reported victory expenses. Therefore, professional and amateur Filipino athletes struggle with a lack of resources while competing in numerous sports locally and even internationally.

This has been an issue for years, with administrations in the Philippines continuing to overlook the growth of the country's athletes and athletic programs. According to Mr. Vicente, “...If there is corruption inside, definitely there will be a lack of funding. It's the corruption itself, the political way of holding these things.”

Laban Pilipinas!

Filipino athletes have faced their fair share of criticism over the years, especially from their own countrymen. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics proved to be a catalyst for further investment in the future of our country's athletes in the years to come. In fact, many of the same Filipinos who once criticized our athletes on social media began showing support after the sudden success of the Olympic representatives. 

It's similar to how Malacanang gives credit to the Duterte administration for Filipino athletes' success at the Tokyo Olympics, asserting that the administration had invested heavily in the financial aid to sports, despite the fact that many athletes reported they experienced a lack of funds and support from the government.

Despite the difficulties athletes have faced owing to lack of funds and lengthy quarantine periods, they should nevertheless be commended for their bravery in continuing their training. Regardless of whether an athlete wins or not, this does not diminish the amount of time and work they put in to train and master their sport.

In the end, neither money nor recognition that athletes receive is the basis of their value. These fighters sacrificed everything for their country's honor and glory—and the government must recognize and support every aspect of an athlete's journey.



This article is also published in The Benildean Volume 8 Issue No. 1: Redacted.