Farewell, But Not Goodbye

The towering Filipina Volleyball player, Alyja Daphne Santiago (Jaja Santiago), has recently made headlines in the sports world as she acquired Japanese citizenship. The news has generated mixed reactions from her fans and supporters, with some expressing disappointment and others showing understanding.

Santiago’s acquisition of Japanese citizenship reflects the growing trend of Filipino Athletes moving to other countries to seek superior prospects in their respective athletic fields. This phenomenon has been going on for several decades now, and it emphasizes the urgency for the Philippine Sports Industry to step up and take more actions to keep its outstanding athletes.

Inadequate resources and insufficient support are some of the significant reasons why most of them choose to leave the Philippines. A dearth of efficient coaching and adequate funds pose hindrance to countless athletes, restraining their progress. Thus, numerous skillful athletes have sought opportunities abroad where they can gain access and experience greater exposure to advanced levels of competitions.

While it is understandable for athletes’ desires to chase their aspirations and secure better opportunities, it may still lead to undeniably loss for the Philippines. Their departure poses a significant challenge that requires a substantial amount of time and resources in order to develop new athletes who are capable of achieving the same level of proficiency they had.

Jaja’s decision to acquire Japanese citizenship may be seen by some as a loss for Philippine Volleyball, it is important to

Antiporta and his opponent grew confident as they scored equally.

With a surprise move that no one had anticipated, Antiporta pulled out the stops by executing his first and second Italian openings in his 6th and final match, knowing that his initial move could pave the path to triumph.

Antiporta focused on maintaining his momentum and he defended his chess pieces in every move he made, not until his rival made mistakes. These mistakes by his foe made Antiporta grab the time and opportunity to take and capture most of the important and powerful pieces of his opponent by strategically destroying them.

With just a few steps left to win, his rival made one final error that sealed the game recognize that it highlights Filipino athletes seeking better opportunities abroad. There should be greater efforts to retain top talents by creating more opportunities for athletes to compete and excel in their respective sports here in our country. in Antiporta’s favor and he masterfully secured the checkmate win over their king.

The Philippine Sports Industry has the potential to be a driving force for national development, in the creation of a culture of excellence. With the right policies and investments, the industry can attract and retain talented athletes and coaches, creating a thriving system that strengthen growth and innovation.

In order to tackle this concern, the (PSI) must make it a priority to enhance its athletes abilities by organizing more prospects for their field, as well as Domestic Leagues competitions with adequate support. Thus, we are filled with pride and honor when our athletes put forth their best efforts in performing overseas and come back with success!.

However, in the 7th and final match of the game, due to Antiporta’s careless gameplay, his queen was devoured that led him to a challenging situation that ultimately contributed to his defeat. On the Contrary, in spite of this loss, Antiporta still managed to take over the 3rd place in the Chess Tournament..

“We practice almost every day, then we practice our calculation in doing puzzles, then when we play with blind fold and we spar with Aviel because he is the strongest in the team, then it seems like our 3rd place in this tournament is not worth it. if I had won the last one, we would have been in 2nd place” Antiporta said.