A viral video of a high school athlete performing a high jump without proper landing equipment in Maguindanao del Norte has raised concerns about the lack of sports facilities in grassroots competitions. The clip, originally uploaded by teacher Dexter Saliling, showed the student landing on a makeshift cushion of rice hull instead of standard high jump mats. The athlete briefly lost consciousness before recovering.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of both the Senate Committees on Youth and on Sports, expressed deep concern and emphasized the urgent need to improve sports facilities, particularly in underprivileged areas.
“Dapat ayusin natin ‘to. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa performance ng mga atleta natin kundi sa kaligtasan din nila. Hindi pwedeng diskarte lang ang gamit nila sa pagsasanay. Kung gusto natin silang manalo, bigyan natin sila ng tamang suporta,” Senator Go said.
Senator Go’s office has learned from teacher Saliling that the young athlete’s name is Donnie Ray “Boyd” Llavore, a student of Bugabungan National High School in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte. Donnie has since undergone medical tests, including a CT scan and X-ray, at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center. Saliling said that he was cleared by doctors and is now preparing for the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Regional Meet in Cotabato City on February 18, where he will represent his province after winning gold in the high jump.
Despite his success, Boyd and his team continue to train under challenging conditions, using rice stalks instead of a proper high jump mat. He also lacks proper footwear for competitions. Boyd comes from a poor family belonging to the Teduray indigenous tribe and is part of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Senator Go stressed that no athlete should have to train under such circumstances, especially when representing their community in higher-level competitions.
“Ang atleta natin, ginagawa ang lahat para magtagumpay. Pero paano sila mananalo kung wala silang tamang sapatos, tamang training equipment? Hindi natin sila pwedeng iwanan nang ganito,” he added.
Teacher Saliling and concerned individuals have recommended providing Boyd with proper high jump shoes and ensuring that his school receives a standard high jump mat to prevent future accidents. Senator Go expressed his intent to look into ways to address such issues on a larger scale and provide proper support and equipment to aspiring young athletes.
As a longtime advocate for sports development, Senator Go has pushed for increased funding to improve training and competition support for Filipino athletes. In partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission, Go has been providing support for the provision of proper sports equipment in various communities as well as in pushing for the conduct of sports clinics, local leagues and trainings for both athletes and coaches at the grassroots level.
He is also one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11470, which established the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. He has also consistently sought budget increases for sports programs, aiming to provide better resources for young athletes.
Over the years, he has also supported various programs aimed at improving facilities and providing better equipment for athletes. Beyond infrastructure and funding, Senator Go reiterated the importance of sports in keeping young Filipinos away from harmful vices.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga kabataan: mag-sports kayo, umiwas sa bisyo, iwas sa droga. Malaking bagay ang disiplina at tiyaga sa sports para sa kinabukasan n’yo,” he said.
The incident in Maguindanao del Norte highlights the challenges faced by many young athletes in rural areas. With proper intervention, grassroots talents like Boyd can safely train, compete, and represent the country at higher levels of competition.
In the global stage, Senator Go also played a key role in securing the country’s successful hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where Filipino athletes delivered historic performances, including the country’s first Olympic gold medal wins.
“Ang ating mga kabataan ay may potensyal na maging world-class athletes kung mabibigyan sila ng tamang suporta. Kaya dapat nating siguruhing may sapat na pondo, tamang training facilities, at mga programang magpapalakas sa kanila,” Go emphasized.
As the Senate sponsor of the national sports budget, Senator Go has pushed for continuous upgrades in sports infrastructure. He has advocated for the rehabilitation and improvement of key sports facilities, including the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. His efforts aim to provide athletes with world-class training environments, complete with proper equipment, nutrition, and mental health support.
“Ang mahalaga dito ay ang ating mga atleta. Dapat tayong magkaisa para masigurong may direksyon ang ating sports development programs,” he said.