Once a dominant force in Asian track and field, the Philippines now graces the global stage, largely owing to the accomplishments of world no. 2 pole vaulter, Ernest John Obiena.
However, there’s a yearning for the nation to do more, reminiscent of the golden era marked by the Gintong Alay program in 1979 under President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., which achieved unparalleled success under the guidance of Michael Keon, the project’s executive director.
Keon and his coaching team played a pivotal role in developing legendary athletes such as former Asia’s sprint queen Lydia de Vega, long jump queen Elma Muros, tracksters Isidro del Prado, Hector Begeo, and Renato Unso.
Keon, who now serves as the mayor of Laoag City, continues to use his keen eye for talent to train athletes in Ilocos. Reflecting on the Gintong Alay era, Keon believes that exceptional athletes are not rare but emphasizes the importance of proper talent scouting.
“There are other Lydia de Vegas out there. There are other Elma Muroses out there. There are other Isidro del Prados out there,” Keon said. “It’s just that people are not properly looking for this talent. You must have talent scouts who know what to look for.”
Keon emphasizes that athletes primarily hailed from the lower-income bracket. He’s doing just that at his hometown in Ilocos where he trains athletes and continues to spot talents and drive their goals.
“If I can find athletes like these in Ilocos Region, I am sure there are more in other parts of the country,” said the 69-year-old local government executive.
During regional and national athletic meets, Keon said he always keeps a close eye on the competition and is always on the lookout for exceptional athletes.
During the Gintong Alay program, the track and field alone broke more than 100 records at the Asian, SEA Games, and Philippine levels.
The Gintong Alay era produced record-breaking athletes like Begeo and del Prado, whose achievements in the 2,000-meter and 3,000-meter steeplechase, and the 400-meter mark, still stand today.
Keon questions why records meant to be broken have remained untouched for decades, highlighting the need for a renewed focus on training and development.
Keon advocates for a return to the grassroots development of homegrown athletes, lamenting the trend of taking the easy route by recruiting Fil-foreigners. He underscores the importance of nurturing local talents and empowering them to achieve success on both national and international levels.
He laments the growing reliance on Fil-foreign athletes, arguing that the country should focus on developing local talents rather than importing athletes who do not reside in the Philippines permanently.
“Personally, I hold no objections to athletes with Filipino heritage representing the country in various international competitions. In our case, the Fil-foreigner athletes we rely on to represent the Philippines do not actually reside in the country,” said Keon.
“During the tenure of Project Gintong Alay from late 1979 to 1986, we relied purely on indigenous, homegrown, local talents.”
“There is so much potential in this country. We should dominate Southeast Asia,” said Keon, adding that Thailand and Vietnam are now lording it over the region.
“We used to dominate Thailand and Vietnam. Now it’s the other way around.”