MANILA — The Philippine Sports Commission, in partnership with the Department of Education and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, will launch the country’s biggest weightlifting academy.

The project aims to strengthen school-based sports, one of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

In a recent meeting with the PSC Chairperson, the DepEd Secretary said at least 300 schools nationwide offer a specialized sports curriculum, giving student-athletes more time for training and physical development.

Both officials emphasized that weight training and weightlifting should serve as the backbone of the program, powering the engine of sports-focused education.

Diaz, who set up an academy in Jala-Jala, Rizal after winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 2021, will help in developing future champions.

“The core requirement for any sport is weightlifting. But you can’t just donate equipment without teaching student-athletes how to use it properly and avoid injuries. Someone has to teach them the fundamentals,” the PSC Chairperson said.

“You need a champion, an icon, to drive this plan. You need Hidilyn Diaz and her academy to replicate the program in each of the 300 schools,” he added.

The DepEd Secretary said Diaz has been helping raise the next generation of athletes.

“We are bringing the President’s vision to life,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management Secretary has expressed full support for the initiative.

“For this project to materialize, we understand that the government should also provide the necessary funding,” she said.

“President Marcos supports any initiative to develop the field of sports in the country. He said so in his SONA, so you can expect us, at the DBM, to be supportive and ready to support our athletes to meet their needs, such as the establishment of this weightlifting academy,” she added.

The DBM will allocate PHP180 million for the project.

The PSC, DepEd and Diaz will sign an agreement after the list of participating schools is finalized.

To kickstart the program, the PSC will donate weightlifting equipment to each school and will seek support from private sponsors and sports foundations for additional gear.

“Before implementation, we’ll organize a summit for weightlifting coaches. After that, we’ll donate the equipment. It’s easy to install, all you need is space. The PSC will allocate funds to make this happen,” the PSC Chairperson said.

“The result is a nationwide PSC-DepEd-Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy.”

Tokyo Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics refers to two major international sporting events held in Japan’s capital: the 1964 Summer Olympics, which symbolized the nation’s remarkable post-war recovery and modernization, and the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, which were held in 2021 under unprecedented circumstances due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Both editions were significant for showcasing Japanese technological innovation and organizational prowess on the world stage.

State of the Nation Address

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is an annual constitutional tradition in many countries, most notably the Philippines and South Africa, where the head of state reports on the nation’s condition to the legislature. Its history is rooted in democratic principles, serving as a mechanism for transparency and accountability by outlining the government’s accomplishments, challenges, and policy agenda for the coming year.

Jala-Jala

Jala-Jala is a municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines, situated on the northern shore of Laguna de Bay. Its name is believed to be derived from the legendary bird “Hala,” and the area is historically known for its church, which was established by Franciscan missionaries in the late 16th century. The town is also famous for being the setting of a popular 19th-century novel and zarzuela by José Rizal.

Rizal

Rizal is a province in the Philippines named after the country’s national hero, Dr. José Rizal. It was originally part of the province of Manila until it was established and renamed in his honor in 1901. The area is historically significant as the site of the Battle of San Juan del Monte, an early engagement in the Philippine Revolution.

SONA

I am unable to identify a specific place or cultural site named “SONA.” It could refer to a local business, a lesser-known location, or perhaps an acronym. To provide an accurate summary, could you please provide more context or clarify what “SONA” refers to?

PSC-DepEd-Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy

The PSC-DepEd-Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy is a specialized sports training institution in the Philippines, established in 2023. It was founded through a partnership between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Education (DepEd), named in honor of Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist. The academy aims to discover and develop young Filipino weightlifting talents, continuing the legacy of its namesake.