HAIL, THE DAUGHTERS OF NIKE

by Hon. Neptali M. Gonzales II (Delivered 06 August 2011, 11:00 a.m. at the Opening Ceremonies of the 42nd Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association [WNCAA] hosted by RTU, Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

Madame Maria Vivian P. Manila, President of the WNCAA; the members of the WNCAA Board; our dear athletes; Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, President of the Rizal Technological University, this year’s host for the WNCAA games; guests, and friends:

Una sa lahat, binabati ko kayo sa panibagong season ng WNCAA. At binabati ko rin ang Rizal Technological University sa kanilang pagiging host ng 42nd WNCAA Season. Ipinagmamalaki namin ang mga naging achievements ng RTU, kasama na ang kanilang pagiging overall WNCAA champions sa nakaraang anim na taon, sapagkat ito ay isang patunay sa husay at galing ng ating mga state universities. As the Congressman of Mandaluyong, I have always maintained the belief that state universities have what it takes to be at par with the rest, at ang paniwalang ito ang naging foundation ng aking malakas at patuloy na suporta sa RTU.

When the Greek god Zeus was gathering allies at the start of the Titan War, the goddess of the underworld river, Styx brought her four children: Nike or Victory, Zelos or Rivalry, Kratos or Strength and Bia or Force, into the service of Zeus. Nike was appointed his charioteer, and all four were appointed as sentinels standing beside the throne of the god. To Nike was given the attributes of victory over every competition: the wreath or sash to crown a victor; a bowl and cup for festivity; an incense burner, an altar, and a lyre for the celebration of victory in song. And in Greek art, Nike is often shown holding that ultimate symbol of victory: a palm branch.

It is indeed ironic that for a long time, men dominated the field of sports and sought to attain victory—a goal that has a woman as its ultimate symbol. The history of sports and athletic competition reveal to us that fact. And while it is true that women sought to break the male stranglehold in athletic competition, it was only until almost half a century ago that women finally made significant inroads in sports.

Forty-one years ago, the social ferment sweeping the country made its presence felt in almost every arena of social life. Sa mga naririto ngayong umaga tulad ni Pres. Torres na noong 1970s ay binata na, o tulad ni Ms. Vivian Manila ay nagdadalaga pa lang, ang dekadang ito ay panahon ng tinatawag na cultural, social, and in some ways political upheaval. Panahon ito ng paghahayag ng pangarap ng kapayapaan, ng flower power generation, ng Woodstock, ng anti-Vietnam war protests. Young people everywhere, specially those in colleges and universities here and abroad carried in them a prevailing sense of establishing a counter-culture against the established norms of that time. It was a period where pop, rock, and other forms of musical expression had its golden era. And I’m sure na ngayon ay naririnig pa ninyo ang mga retro music from the 70s. And for women all over the world, it was a time of continued awakening.

Women at the time became concerned with gender equality in laws and culture. In 1973, a key event in the field of sports caught the attention of countless fans all over the world. In that year, a dominant figure in the field of tennis came to be irritated with the antics of Bobby Riggs, a four-time Wimbledon champion who claimed that women’s tennis was far inferior to men’s. Billy Jean King accepted his challenge to a battle of sexes with a prize of 100,000 dollars. Sa madaling kuwento, natuloy ang laban at pagkatapos ng 3 matches, pinatahimik ni Billy Jean King si Bobby Riggs. The woman won the battle of the sexes. Pero para kay Billy Jean King, hindi lang pera ang naging issue: gusto n’yang patunayan sa milyong nanood ng laban nila na hindi totoo ang sinasabi ni Riggs na inferior ang babae sa lalake. In the end, her victory earned for the women the respect they deserved in the field of sports.

This event in many ways sealed the efforts of six representatives of women’s schools in Manila in 1970. The founding of the WNCAA by representatives of St. Theresa’s College, Maryknoll College, the Philippine Women’s University, St. Stephen’s High School, Chiang Kai Shek College, and the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila carried this desire to give women equal rights and opportunities in the field of sports. Ang prinsipyong dala nila noon ay ang paniniwala na sa pamamagitan ng sports, ang kababaihan ay may malinaw na daang tatahakin para sa kanilang personal growth, development and success. Today, 41 years later, we who gather here are heirs to that dream. You stand here as the personification of Nike, the goddess of victory.

Humanity’s quest for victory and success in nearly every arena of life is a powerful drug for many. Modern values seem to have imposed upon us the ideal that “nobody loves a loser”. No wonder, then, that there are those who would go to great lengths in attaining victory and success. Many will bribe and cajole their way to success and victory. Many will take shortcuts in life rather than travel the long and difficult road of perseverance and discipline. Yes, while you may invariably win with such values, the balance of life will eventually catch up with you and take away the victory and success you earned the easy way. But to the determined few who refuse the siren call of cutting deals and corners to victory, earning it the hard way more than makes up for the time and effort and above all, the dignity of coming our a real winner.

In 1950, a woman athlete caught the attention of the world when she broke the then current world record for swimming across the English Channel. On August 8, 1950, distance swimmer Florence Chadwick swam across the English Channel from France in 13 hours and 20 minutes. She broke the 24-year record of 14 hours, 39 minutes, and 24 seconds held by fellow American Gertrude Ederle. She was not contented with this achievement, and said after her successful swim, “I am quite prepared to swim back”. In 1951, she returned to Dover, England and spent the next 11 weeks waiting for good weather that will help in her attempt to swim from England to France. On September 11, 1951 she finally decided to go ahead and swim the more difficult England-to-France route, an attempt that no woman has ever before completed. After 16 hours and 22 minutes, Chadwick emerged from the waters of the English Channel and became the first woman to swim across the channel in both directions.

In 1952, Florence attempted another distance swimming record: to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline. She was accompanied by people in small boats who were ready to provide help if she got hurt, tired, or attacked by sharks. Fifteen hours after she started, the sea was enveloped by a thick fog. Florence started to have doubts whether she can make it, and told her mother so who was in one of the boats. Yet, she swam for another hour. But because she could no longer see the coastline because of the fog, she asked to be pulled out. Moments later, as she sat in the boat, she found out that she was just one mile away from the California coastline.

Did she give this record up? Not by a long chance! Two months later, she tried again, but this time she kept a firm image of the California shoreline in her mind. The same thick fog came and set in, but Florence swam on and on until she reached her goal.

Para sa atin na sanay lang mag-swimming sa pool, endurance or distance swimming is the most demanding form of wimming. Like marathon running and other endurance sports, it requires athletes to keep good form, technique, and concentration for many hours. Most marathon swimmers swim between 60 and 70 strokes a minute. Therefore, a 10-hour swim would require 42,000 strokes, and a 14-hour swim would require 58,000 strokes! Of course, distance swimmers have to deal with ships in the open sea, changing weather conditions, loss of navigational aids, jellyfish bites, possible shark attacks, and the occasional floating debris in the seas. Isipin n’yo na lang kung gayon ang uri ng disiplina, tiyaga, at katapangang taglay ni Florence Chadwick.

In life, as in sports, the only way to the sweetest of victories is to have the discipline, integrity, perseverance, and courage to overcome adversities. Having these in the deepest corners of our souls will bestow upon us the reward of achieving excellence—one ideal of the human spirit that is instilled in us.

Daughters of Nike, today I bid you God speed as you launch into the deeps of athletic competition. Let your hearts be conquered by the spirit of camaraderie and fun. Let your spirits be dominated by the value of fairness and equanimity. Hail to you, the heirs of discipline, fortitude, courage, and victory.

Good day, and let the games begin.