By Waylon Galvez
Three months after fighting for flag and country in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, several Filipino athletes are back at the forefront battling a much more menacing opponent.
Romark Belo, right, takes a ‘groufie’ with his navy unit as they man a checkpoint in Cavitex as part of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in this fight against COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Romark Belo)
This time, these sports heroes are in a ‘war’ that has gone deadly — against COVID-19.
Romark Belo of the Navy in full battle gear at the checkpoint in Cavitex. (Photo from Romark Belo)
Two members of the Philippine water polo team, Romark Belo and Mark Jerwin Valdez, are part of more than 150 ‘enlisted’ athletes that belong to various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police helping the country as frontliners in the global health crisis.
“Madami na rin na naka-deploy sa tingin ko na tropang atleta,” said Valdez in an interview Monday with The Manila Bulletin. “Ni-recall lahat ng sundalo, coast guard and police kasi naka-red alert kami.”
Valdez and Belo are both with the Philippine Navy.
Three other members of the water polo team are also enlisted personnel but are currently training with the Air Force — Adan Gonzales, McGyver Reyes and Bnel Amiladjid.
It was only last December when they played key roles for the national team following a silver medal finish in water polo in the 30th SEA Games here – the first podium finish in the sport for Philippines in nine years.
While other teammates were forced to a lockdown by the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Valdez and Belo – both Seaman Second Class officers – were deployed to separate locations.
Valdez just finished his stint manning a post at the Naval Base Cavite (formerly Naval Station Sangley Point) in Cavite City last Sunday and will return to the said camp on April 6.
As for Belo, he started his stint Monday as part of a navy unit that will conduct checkpoints at the Cavitex Tollgate for the next 15 days before they undergo another 15-day quarantine.
“Mahirap… malayo sa pamilya. Tapos ang kalaban hindi pa nakikita,” said Belo, a father of one-year-old Amara Elyz and husband to Pau Genido-Belo. “Pero wala namang pagsubok na hindi natin kayang lampasan.
Mark Jerwin Valdez of the Navy in full battle gear at the Naval Base Cavite (formerly U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point) in Cavity City. (Photo from Mark Jerwin Valdez)
“Saka itong ginagawa namin napakasarap sa pakiramdam, lalo na yung nakakatulong ka para sa bayan. Alam mong may purpose ang paghihirap mo – kagaya pa din bilang atleta.”
Valdez shares the same sentiment despite the challenges and danger of being infected with the virus.
Romark Belo of the Navy with his unit at the checkpoint in Cavitex. (Photo from Romark Belo)
“Always ready kami whenever duty calls, iyan na kasi talaga iyung doctrine na tinuro sa amin. Na simula nung ma-enlist kami, pagmamay-ari na kami ng gobyerno; hindi na namin hawak ang oras namin,” said Valdez.
“Any order na galing sa taas, kailangan namin sundin kaya pag mga ganitong sitwasyon, banat lang nang banat. Pareho lang din naman halos ng pagiging athlete. Ginagawa namin lahat ng ito para sa bayan.”
According to Marc Velasco, national training director of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), there are 134 enlisted athletes that belong to the AFP, while nine are part of the Philippine Coast Guard, and two are with the Philippine National Police.
Velasco said the PSC gets a list from the following departments called “detached service” for them to be allowed to train and compete for flag and country.
“If they have that DS or detached service, these athletes report to the PSC for training and of course they compete as part of the national team. Normally the DS is for one year,” said Velasco, adding that without the DS, these enlisted athletes return to their mother units.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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