'The Atom Araullo Specials' presents ‘Dreams of Gold’

“DREAMS OF GOLD”
November 24, 2019, Linggo, 3:30PM

Maraming ng mga pangalan ang namayagpag at nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa sa larangan ng palakasan. Pero sa kabila nito, marami pa ang kailangang bununin para tuluyang makipagsabayan ang Pilipinas sa buong mundo. Sa Olympics, nananatiling mailap ang matagal nang pinapangarap na gintong medalya. Simula naman noong 1990, hindi na nakatuntong sa “Top 10” ang Pilipinas sa Asian Games habang hindi na nakapasok sa “Top 4” ang bansa sa Southeast Asian (SEA) Games simula noong 2007.

Sa isang natatanging sports documentary, tutuklasin ng premyadong mamamahayag na si Atom Araullo kung kayang maulit ang mga tagumpay ng nakaraan at tuluyang umangat at makasabay ang Pilipinas sa ibang bansa sa daigdig ng palakasan.

Nakatakdang idaos ang SEA Games sa bansa ngayong buwan. Puspusan na ang paghahanda ng mga kalahok na atleta. Ipapakita ng boksingerong si Nesthy Petecio, weightlifter na si Hidilyn Diaz at ng Philippine Dragonboat Team ang kanilang paghahanda. Ikukuwento rin nila kung paano nabago ng sports ang kanilang buhay at kung ano ang suporta na ibinigay sa kanila ng gobyerno. Sa Central Luzon, susundan ni Atom si Nico Peralta, isang paracyclist na may cerebral palsy para pumadyak mula Nueva Ecija hanggang Tarlac. Ulilang lubos si Nico. Dumidiskarte siya sa paggawa ng mga hollow blocks o di kaya trabahador sa isang farm para may panggastos sa araw-araw. Pagkatapos ng training, madalas inililibre na lang siya ng kanyang team mates ng pagkain. Durog na rin ang kanyang bisikleta. Ganunpaman, hindi ito naging hadlang para makamit ang pangarap niya na maging parte ng Philippine National team at makasali sa nalalapit na ASEAN Paragames. Hanggang saan kaya ang mararating ng bisikleta ni Nico?

Ang galing ng mga atleta, dapat daw hinuhubog habang sila’y bata at nag-uumpisa pa lang. Sa Iloilo, makikipagsabayan sa laro si Atom sa mga batang football player.  Nakayapak lamang ang mga batang atleta, walang ano mang sapin sa paa. Wala raw silang pambili ng sapatos. Ito ang naranasan ng sampung taong gulang na si Angel Bautista. Minsang may nagbigay na raw sa kanya ng sapatos. Pero malaki ito sa kanya kaya nilalagyan niya na lang ito ng papel sa loob.  Sa Agusan Norte naman, nagtitiis si Giovanni Grana at ang kanyang teammates sa karton bilang combat gear sa larong arnis. Pinopondohan nila ang sariling gamit, training at kompetisyon sa pamamagitan ng solicitation o panghihingi ng pera.

Marami mang problemang kinakaharap, tuloy ang laban ng mga atletang Pilipino at buo ang puso nilang lumaban para sa bayan. Handa at armado kaya sila sa malaking hamong ito?

Ang kasalukuyang estado ng larangan ng Pilipinas, kaya na bang makipagsabayan o patuloy na mapag-iiwanan?

Huwag palampasin ang isang hapon ng makabuluhang dokumentaryo at tuklasin ang mga kasagutan sa naghihintay na kinabukasan ng Philipppine sports sa The Atom Araullo Specials: Dreams of Gold ngayong Linggo na, November 24, 3:30 ng hapon.

(English)

In the world of sports, some names made it big and became triumphant putting the Philippines on the global stage. But despite this, the journey remains long for the country to be able to compete and be at par with the best in the world.   In the Olympics, the long-sought gold medal remains elusive. Since 1990, the Philippines has not made it to the top 10 of the Asian Games nor has it reached Top 4 in the SEA Games since 2007.

Join multi-awarded broadcast journalist Atom Araullo as he exposes the current state of Philippine sports and searches for answers if the Philippines will get better or will remain stuck in the world of sport.

This month, the Southeast Asian Games will commence with Philippines as the host country. Athletes from various fields of sports are doubling efforts to prepare for their respective games.

From sunrise to sundown, our national team like the Philippine Dragonboat Team, Nesthy Petecio and Hidilyn Diaz train tirelessly, bent on bagging the gold. As they show us their training, they also share how sports have changed their lives and how the Philippine government has supported them throughout the years.

In Central Luzon, Atom met with Nico, a paracyclist who has cerebral palsy and an orphan. Despite the risk, he has turned the perilous highways of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac into a training ground. He works part-time making hollow blocks and a farm worker to have funds for his training.  In spite of his medical condition and personal battle, he has made his way to the upcoming ASEAN Paragames.

Some say to hone one's skills, it should  start in the grassroots. In Visayas, kid athletes play football barefoot. Their families simply cannot afford to buy shoes. 10-yr.-old Angel Bautista was lucky enough someone donated shoes. However, it was big for her and she has to put paper inside to fill the gap. Angel also doesn’t have the means to commute to the training site. Her grandmother says, Angel would usually cry but will choose to walk two hours than miss the training. In Mindanao, George and his teammates make do with cardboard boxes as their combat gear for arnis. Sometimes, they beg for food and solicit their own funds just to provide for their training and competitions.

Despite various problems hounding Philippine sports, the fight and quest of the athletes for supremacy remain. Are they getting the right and full support from the government?

What future awaits Philippine sports? The answers will be revealed in The Atom Araullo Specials: Dreams of Gold on November 24, 3:30PM.