00:00In our sports banter, we interviewed Ms. Drolly Claraval, President of the Masters and Seniors
00:13Athletics Association of the Philippines.
00:15Let's go back and talk about some sports events that can be joined by veteran athletes.
00:23Let's watch this.
00:30Welcome to PTV Sports.
00:32First of all, Ms. Drolly, how was the turnout of our 2024 Philippine Masters International Athletics Championship,
00:40as well as that of the old Filipinos?
00:42Well, first of all, I would like to greet our fellow Filipinos with a good morning and
00:50an advance happy birthday to our mayor, Dr. Jose Marie Diaz, in the city of Ilagan.
00:59Actually, last November 8 and 10, we conducted the International Masters Championship in Ultra.
01:09And our championship is one of the happiest so far, and it was well attended.
01:19Because last May, we conducted the National, and the increase in terms of events was very high.
01:27Last time, we had only 891 events, but now we have 1,066 events.
01:34So, because of the, of course, the help of our friends and media to disseminate the information
01:42and to announce to people in the Philippines to participate for this event.
01:47So, we are very happy because there are still a lot of people who participated, including our fellow Filipinos.
01:53And we have a lot of special stories of our participants.
02:01Because there are those who have been stroked seven times, returned to the field.
02:05There are also cancer patients who always tell me,
02:09Ma'am, I'm a cancer patient. I'm a survivor. Now, I'm here again. I'm happy.
02:14Ma'am, last month, I was depressed. Now, I'm happy because I joined here.
02:20So, this activity is a holistic approach of introducing this to the masters,
02:29not only the masters, but also our senior citizens.
02:33Ms. Drolly, you said that compared to last year, the turnout of this event really increased.
02:39In your opinion, how did it happen? What was the reason?
02:43The new participants who participated in May, they invited their fellow Filipinos again.
02:49And of course, the media is a big help because we always announce.
02:56And then, of course, the others, they just joined now.
03:01They're not an athlete before, but now they're getting old.
03:05Actually, some of them are 60 years old, 65 years old, that's the start.
03:09Athletics is just a basic skill of all of us.
03:16We can walk, we can run, we can throw.
03:18So, even if it's just basic, when they see the elders running, they are really inspired.
03:25Ms. Drolly, to our viewers, they're very interested.
03:29Is there an age category to join the Masters Athletics?
03:34Yes, Mags.
03:36In the Masters, we start 30 years old here in the Philippines.
03:41But abroad, 35 years old, up to 100 years old.
03:46Oh, wow.
03:47So, the oldest, actually, the oldest patient I've met, talked to, and treated is 103 years old from India.
03:57So, it happened during the Asian Games, our Asian Masters in Malaysia coaching.
04:04So, 103 years old, 100, 200, and the game is Java.
04:12So, here in the Philippines, where are they?
04:16So, hopefully, through this program that we have in the Philippines, we can continue to encourage our senior citizens.
04:26Actually, we already launched a program for the senior citizens.
04:30We started in the city of Ilagan, and we're so thankful to our dear mayor to give their full support to the activity.
04:38Because, imagine, in our launching, less than 5,000 senior citizens participated,
04:44seeing them going around the oval.
04:46They're walking on the trees.
04:49So, it's fun.
04:50And the oldest one who attended is 101 years old.
04:52Wow.
04:54Wow.
04:55Your program is very inspiring.
04:58Yes, ma'am.
04:59But, of course, to those who want to join, how can they join, and what are the sports under your program?
05:05Well, this is athletics.
05:07So, we have three events, main events.
05:09We have jumping, running, and throwing.
05:11So, all events in athletics, we play.
05:15So, from a sprint, middle distance, and long distance.
05:19And, of course, we have also the walk.
05:21And then, we have throws.
05:22I'm a thrower.
05:24Right now, last 2023, when we hosted the Asian Masters Championship, I was the one who scored in our category in handball.
05:33So, throwing is my game.
05:35All four throws.
05:36Then, in throwing, we have hammer throw, discus throw, chavel throw, and discus throw.
05:46And then, in jumping events, long jump, triple jump, and, of course, we have the full boat also.
05:56And, actually, last August, we participated in the World Championship in Sweden.
06:04And, I was so happy.
06:06I was so inspired by the throwing.
06:0880 years old.
06:10Wow.
06:11He told me, I have two pacemakers in my heart.
06:15I have four operations in my shoulder and nine operations in my knee.
06:22But, still, in the field, we play.
06:24Right?
06:25Here in the Philippines, when there's an injury, it's at home.
06:28So, we need to encourage each other.
06:33Because this is the natural way of healing people.
06:36Ms. Droly, so, you're saying that here in the Philippines, we need to break the notion that if you have these feelings, you shouldn't engage in physical activities.
06:49Is that right?
06:50Yes, yes, yes.
06:51Yes.
06:52Actually, another thing that pushed me to inspire the young people, I mean, the senior citizens,
06:58in China, we have Rugao, China, right?
07:05There's a city there called City of Longevity.
07:09So, that is in Rugao.
07:11Why City of Longevity?
07:12Because there are 300 plus centennial people there.
07:17Wow.
07:18And, one time, I saw him walking and working.
07:20We asked him how old he was.
07:22He said, he's 91 years old and he's still working.
07:25I said, he's so strong.
07:27Right?
07:28So, I hope that here in the Philippines, we're still going strong.
07:31This is the definition that age is but a number, no limit, right?
07:36Yes, yes.
07:37But Ms. Droly, let me just add, how important are these events or programs for our senior citizens?
07:44And not just our senior citizens, but for people who really want to join these programs.
07:52You know, for now, it's open.
07:54It's different, we already have triathlons.
07:57But the majority of people who really join the fun run,
08:01it's just there, you just join the fun run, right?
08:04And then, later on, you'll be motivated and inspired.
08:06And then, later on, you go for proper competition.
08:09So, those who join here, join this, that's a big thing.
08:13Because this is the natural way to detoxify the body.
08:16And this is the natural way to strengthen your body.
08:19I'm already a grandmother.
08:20I have five children.
08:21Okay?
08:22So, when people look at you, you're already a grandmother, you're not a grandmother anymore, right?
08:26Right?
08:27So, maybe they can't see it on my face that I'm already a grandmother.
08:29That's why I'm very proud that I'm encouraging people here in the Philippines to join the activity
08:35because it will really help, great help to all of us.
08:38Because this is the natural way to strengthen us.
08:42Ms. Droly, we already talked about the participation of our senior athletes.
08:47But, our PWD countrymen are also interested,
08:51even if there are non-Filipinos who can join here.
08:55Actually, while I was on my way here, I thought of that.
09:00Actually, last time, someone joined, someone with a disability, just by hand.
09:06But, we will consider that to create a national master group for Paralympics.
09:14Okay?
09:15In track events.
09:16But, it's another area.
09:18You will hold another group.
09:21But, definitely, we are looking forward to PWD.
09:25Yes, correct.
09:26It's a big boost for our PWD.
09:29Yes, yes.
09:31We will consider that.
09:32Moving forward, Ms. Droly, what other events can we expect to come?
09:38Okay.
09:39So, this coming March, next year, our event is just about to end.
09:43So, we're going to have the Indoor Championship in Florida.
09:49Okay?
09:50So, USA, March.
09:51And then, we're going to have another Asian Championship in Indonesia.
09:57And then, we're going to have an activity in May of next year.
10:01So, that is in the Philippines.
10:03So, we're doing all of that.
10:06And then, we keep on encouraging people.
10:08Actually, we have different activities already in the Philippines.
10:12Because, one of my objectives is to go around the Philippines, different regions,
10:16to encourage senior citizens to participate in the activity.
10:20And then, at the same time, even the masters.
10:22So, in Davao, we started already last September.
10:25So, we started in Davao for our masters.
10:27And then, hopefully, there will be more activities.
10:30Not only in Ilagan, not only in Davao, but other regions.
10:37Ms. Rolly, I believe that you have an award-winning tool with you this morning.
10:43Can you tell us more about that?
10:45Yes, yes, yes.
10:46So, my fellow countrymen, it was awarded in 2021, Gintong Gawad Award for the latest product for sports.
10:58So, I'm using this.
11:00This was awarded last 2022 in Vietnam for our athletics players.
11:05If you know Eric Ray, he was one of our runners.
11:10He was our Olympian.
11:11And the rest of the good athletes, they have issues.
11:15They have sciatica.
11:16They have pains in their bodies that they cannot perform anymore.
11:20So, through this tool, it helped a lot.
11:25So, that was in 2022.
11:26In 2023, it was awarded as a national award because of the impact of this.
11:32So, we utilized this in our city, city of Ilagan.
11:35Our mayor, former mayor, Dr. Mam Moods, Honorable Moods Diaz.
11:41She is a physical therapist.
11:43And she collected all of our apities in our city.
11:48They sponsored us to learn the technique of this.
11:52They call it amazing blade because 3 to 5 glides in the body, it will release right away the fascia, adhesion.
12:00So, this is what I use in the clinic.
12:02All of the tools that I use in the clinic are patented.
12:05And it's supported by the Department of Science and Technology.
12:08And right now, actually, it's ongoing that UP Diliman Taekwondo Team requested me to be their sports therapist in Rizal Memorial.
12:16From here, I will return there later.
12:20Congratulations.
12:21Congratulations.
12:22But how can we use this?
12:24I'm just curious.
12:25The shape, actually, we call it the instrument soft tissue mobilization.
12:31That's the general term.
12:33But this is, we call it, the patent name is handheld massage tool.
12:37Because sometimes, we have a lot of gadgets at home that have batteries and need electricity.
12:42This doesn't have.
12:43You can bring this anywhere.
12:44And the shapes, it fits the whole body from the smallest to the biggest muscles.
12:49And you will only know that if I'm going to tell you the technique.
12:54Can I?
12:55Yes, later.
12:56I can, I can, I can.
12:57I'll demonstrate on.
12:58Yes, I'll try it on you after, after the program.
13:01Alright, alright.
13:04You know, Parter, this is such a good program.
13:08Because here, we can see that our sports are very inclusive right now.
13:13This is a good avenue for our senior citizens to show their skills in sports.
13:19You're right, partner.
13:20And just like what Ms. Drolly said,
13:24not only the feelings to participate in physical activities.
13:31Because, like Ms. Drolly said, that's the natural way of healing the body.
13:36With that, Ms. Drolly, thank you so much for joining our interview this morning.
13:42Thank you so much too.
13:43We really learned a lot.
13:44You're right.
13:45Thank you so much.
13:48Don't be scared teammates because PTV Sport will be back.
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