The Department of Education (DepEd) will conduct its first-ever Virtual Sports Skills Demonstration Contest on Nov. 19, to provide an avenue for public school student-athletes to showcase their sports skills.
Dubbed as ‘Talentadong Pinoy’, the demonstration contest 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.
“The Department supports 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,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
According to the released Office of the Undersecretary for Administration memorandum, the program is open for all secondary public schools nationwide, preferably with existing sports clubs or varsity teams. 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. Then, the regional champions will compete in the National Finals.
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua noted that they came up with the idea of the DepEd Sports Skills Demonstration Contest to answer the clamor of the sports enthusiast in schools and 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,” Undersecretary Pascua said.
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.
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.
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) – bny
