I am the least knowledgeable person to talk about sports. I have never been an athlete. When I am asked what sports I play, my answer is: “throwing my weight around and jumping to conclusions.” I think vigorous physical activity is something I am naturally averse to.
Growing up in the 70s and 80s in Davao, I was not exposed to sports activities. I guess when you’re a child in the “killing fields of Asia,” not getting caught in the crossfire was your focus instead of sports. And playing sports was not mandatory in school then. Because when do you get to engage in sports activities after class when you are worried about curfew? Martial law was no child’s play.
In my elementary and high school days, serious athletes were mostly kids from poor backgrounds who got into sports so they can get educational scholarships. There were no specialized training schools or programs then. Sports was considered a hobby and my hobbies (or extra curricular activities) as a young student were writing and dancing. They were more my speed. So this means I am not good at sports and I am also not a sports fan.
But Davao’s historic win at the Palarong Pambansa 2025 held in Ilocos Norte captured my interest. Not just because of how it added another dimension into the political soap opera of the ex-UniTeam of Ilocos Norte Tiger Bongbong Marcos and Davao Eagle Inday Sara Duterte, but because it was a very sweet affirmation of the triumph of the Davaoeño spirit.
Davaoeños felt really good because this victory had nothing to do with our political leaders or our government. It was pure grit and heart of our Davaoeño student athletes with the support of their families, coaches, teachers, schools, and community.
I was so inspired by our conversations with some of the student athletes last Saturday at our Dawow radio program and podcast over DXUM and Mindanao Times Facebook Page.
We talked with the Davao Artistic Gymnastics team led by gold medalist Chalsea “Chase” Tuazon, age 8, of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), and silver medalist Nigel Teves, age 8, of SPED Bangkal. Both made history for being the first gymnasts from Davao City to secure gold and silver in the Palarong Pambansa. Both trained with La Aguila Gymnastics Philippines here in Davao City.
Chase did not expect to win gold in this national competition because it has not happened before. But now that she proved she can do it, she believes Davaoeño gymnasts can become Olympic champions, too.
When we asked Chase and Nigel who their sports idols are, both named famous American artistic gymnasts. Chase is inspired by American gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, whose perfect 10 floor routine in 2019 went viral, while Nigel admires American Olympian Simone Biles, considered the most decorated gymnast in history. Both gymnasts are also known for their work beyond sports. They are both strong advocates for mental health and for preventing abuse in sports.
We were surprised they did not include Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo. We prodded and prompted, asking them if they also like him, but the young Davaoeño gymnasts kept silent, refusing to give in. I thought maybe because Yulo is such a controversial figure in his personal life that his gymnastic achievements were overshadowed by his family drama.
This led me to think that our Davaoeño student athletes value character and integrity as much as, if not more than, talent and skill.
The Davao Eagles, our Palarong Pambansa 2025 champion in the Secondary Boys Basketball (5v5 division), clearly demonstrated that. From winning the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) championship to the DCAA and DAVRAA championships, all the way to their historic national win, they showed not just skill, but a lot of heart.
Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ, ADDU President, said: “But more than the (gold) medal, we celebrate the journey and the values that brought these young men to this victory.”
Davao Eagles head coach Jess Linus Evangelio shared that his first consideration in choosing his players is that they must value the team over the individual self, consistent with Ateneo’s “person for and with others” guiding principle.
“There are no stars, everyone is valuable and has an important role to play,” he stressed. “And we do not just play for ourselves, but for our school, our city, our region, and our country.”
That is why humility is a key value Coach Jess teaches his players. This value sustained them at the Palarong Pambansa where the Davao Eagles faced harassment and bullying from other teams in the form of trash talk and physical intimidation.
“We kept our cool, ignored the bullying, remained humble, and just focused on playing well the way we were trained by our coach,” said team captain Sebastian “Basti” Joseph Laroya.
Team co-captain Justin Andre Cesar Redulla, whose Filipino basketball idol is Coach Jess, added that balancing sports and studies is also a key factor. You must be good at both. In ADDU, a school that does not offer athletic scholarships, athletes cannot play if they have failing grades.
“We are grateful for our team of parents who help us monitor the grades of our student athletes and support them in every aspect of their lives, not just as champion basketball players,” Coach Jess said.
Their family is the first team these young athletes belong to. Their parents are also their first coaches. They learn these values at home first. The stories from our champions highlight the positive impact their families play in shaping them to be the great athletes they are.
Our Davao Eagles, as the Palarong Pambansa champion, will represent the Philippines in the ASEAN School Games in Brunei. They will be playing on the international arena not just as Davaoeños, but as Filipinos.
“We express our full support and confidence in their ability to carry our country’s flag with honor and pride. They go not just with talent, but with values — and that, I believe, is what sets them apart,” said Fr. Karel.
With all the demoralizing stories circulating in our country now, I am glad the world will get to witness the real Davaoeño spirit represented by our Davao Eagles.
