To provide an avenue for public school student-athletes to showcase their sports skills even amidst the ongoing pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) will conduct its first-ever virtual sports skills demonstration contest next month.
Dubbed as “Talentadong Pinoy,” DepEd will hold the demonstration contest virtually on Nov. 19. It will feature student-athletes’ skills in sports played in the Palarong Pambansa such as synchronized kicking for taekwondo, dribbling drills for basketball, routine for rhythmic or aerobic gymnastics, and dance performance for dancesport, among others.
Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, in statement issued Wednesday, Oct. 20, said that the DepEd continues to support the promotion of school sports even in this time of pandemic through activities that can be done using online modality.
“This Virtual Sports Skills Demonstration Contest is a very good opportunity in engaging our student-athletes in sports who sorely miss participation to various activities and competition like the Palarong Pambansa,” Briones said.
Based on memorandum released by the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration, the program is open for all secondary public schools nationwide. Preferably, the participants should have existing sports clubs or varsity teams.
DepEd said that that participating teams shall consist of six to 12 student-athletes aged 16 to 18 years old.
“A maximum of two teams from different public schools from each Schools Division may compete in their respective Regional Contests,” DepEd said. “Then, the regional champions will compete in the National Finals,” it added.
Answer to the clamor
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua explained that DepEd came up with the idea of the DepEd Sports Skills Demonstration Contest as an answer to the clamor of the sports enthusiast in schools.
This, he added, also aims to give the student-athletes a chance to showcase their prowess in a virtual setup.
"With the clamor of our sports officers, managers, officials, coaches, and student-athletes of having a sports activity in lieu of competitions and other activities prohibited during this time of the pandemic, the DepEd, through the OUA, brought up the idea of having a sports competition without even actually doing the traditional competition,” Pascua said.
The DepEd Sports Skills Demonstration Contest is in support of the Department’s thrust of fully implementing the after-school sports program aimed at organizing and establishing sports clubs in all public schools nationwide.
DepEd said that judging of the recorded performances in the Regional Contests and National Finals will be done virtually in observance of the health and safety protocols set forth by respective local IATFs on physical distancing and mass gatherings.
The cash prizes, plaques, medals, and other prizes will be given to the winners while consolation prizes await the runners-up of the Regional Contest and the National Finals.