Caught in the act!

The Jose Rizal Memorial State College (JRMSC) System with the Dipolog Campus as the host institution warmly welcomed the delegates of the 5th Systemwide Meet with its formal opening on November 20, Tuesday. This event was held in correlation with the celebration of the 11th Founder’s Week honoring the godfather of JRMSC, former Congressman Romeo "Nonong" Jalosjos Jr.

The five campuses of JRMSC, namely: Dapitan Campus (Main), Dipolog, Katipunan, Siocon and Tampilisan will compete on numerous contests which highlight the weeklong celebration, to wit: Athletic Competitions, Literary and Musical Contests and the Search for Mr. and Miss JRMSC System 2007. During the said affairs, several views, expectations and personal judgment await!

We heard the message of Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Tang Uy during the opening program. In her speech, she said that sports would definitely help us as we go through life. This notion is indisputably precise for sports teach valuable things which in one manner or another facilitate our existence in this world. Considering that sports impart the value of discipline, Dr. Edgar S. Balbuena pointed out that "unity, solidarity, teamwork, integrity and dignity" are values that each competitor must have to become a globally competitive individual.

Sports competitions are undeniably opportunities for showcasing abilities, energy and expertise in the process of competing with one another. But, it is not only an avenue wherein all of the opponents can develop their abilities and proficiency and advance their self-esteem by competing themselves for this can be a legitimate learning experience for an individual to be able to appreciate victory and to accept defeat.

Indeed, it is hard to lose. When you do lose, don’t take it against your opponent nor blame the officials or charge your team. Take it in pace. Move on. Just be proud of how you performed, or at least be aware of things you need to improve for the next time. When it comes to losing, congratulate the winners eagerly. Accept the game’s outcome without protests and without excuses, even if you sometimes might suspect some questionable actions.

However, poignant it is to say that there are egocentric people who only see winning as just the main purpose they like to be achieved. There are also people who take pride in their triumph evident by the scoreboard showing the numbers going in their favor, but remain unconscious of how they play the game as messy, unaware of sensitive sentiments and feelings such as humiliating opponents’ defeat and ignorance of the "golden rule" of sports – good sportsmanship. In any sports competition there is always a winner and a loser, but a good sportsman never counts how many wins and loses he earns. He only reckons how much he loves his game and how much personal happiness and satisfaction he gets from his participation.

Now, note this quote of Grantland Rice: "For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes not that you won or lost – but how you played the game."

Everytime you go out and play in the different competitions of this year’s system meet, you are being watched. You may not realize it but someone is observing you on how you act. Your behavior may have a significant impact, positive or negative, on Him. Just perform to the greatest of your abilities within the concept of good sportsmanship.

Mabuhay JRMSCians!