THE Department of Education (DepEd) will conduct its first-ever Virtual Sports Skills Demonstration Contest on November 19 to provide an avenue for public school student-athletes to showcase their skills.
Dubbed Talentadong Pinoy, the 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.
“The department supports the promotion of school sports even in this time of pandemic through activities that can be done using online modality,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said. “This 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.”
The program is open to all secondary public schools nationwide, preferably with existing sports clubs or varsity teams. Participating teams should 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 Pascua said that the contest is the response to the clamor of sports enthusiast in schools and to give student-athletes a chance to showcase their skills in a virtual setup.
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 health task force units 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 in the regional and national finals.