Marcos urges student-athletes to embrace discipline, sportsmanship

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday encouraged young athletes to give their best and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship as he attended the opening of the Cagayan Provincial Athletic Association (CPAA) Meet at the Camalaniugan Sports Complex.

In his message, Marcos highlighted the values of discipline, camaraderie, and perseverance that sports cultivate in students.

“Patuloy pa rin ang palakasan dahil ito ang pinakamagandang training para sa ating mga kabataan dahil natututo tayo ng disiplina, natututo tayo ng camaraderie. Natututo tayo at kung paano pagka kahit na medyo nadapa ay babangon ulit para manalo ulit, para maging champion (Sports continue because it is the best training for our youth, as we learn discipline and camaraderie. We also learn how, even if we stumble a little, to get back up again to win again, to become a champion),” 

He emphasized that participation in sports teaches lessons that extend beyond the playing field.

“So let us continue this. We will continue to encourage sports among our young people because, as far as I'm concerned, there is no downside to sports. Everything you gain, all the values, all the lessons you learn from participating in sports… you can apply in your lives. It will help you,” he added.

Marcos also noted the government’s efforts to strengthen youth development through sports, including reincorporating sports administration into the Department of Education (DepEd).

“In the past, the DepEd, which was called DECS — Department of Education, Culture, and Sports — had removed sports from schools. We are gradually bringing it back to schools so that all our youth can experience sports, strengthen their bodies, and learn how to work with other teams and other people,” he said.

The CPAA Meet, organized by the DepEd Schools Division Office Cagayan with support from the Camalaniugan local government and the Cagayan provincial government, runs from 7 to 10 January, with the official opening held on 8 January.

The event also serves as a venue for selecting provincial representatives for the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association Meet scheduled in April 2026, which will be a lead-up to the Palarong Pambansa in May 2026.