( I still havent finished this, but im posting it here before it becomes irrelevant)
The Gold Craze
In the early meetings with the coaches, trainers, and chaperons , Mr. Quinal announced that the point system method will be used to determine the ranking of the participating divisions. However, just a week before our departure, a new development arose and a medal tally system, patterned to the Olympic, will be used instead. This means that the total number of gold will prevail over the silver; and the silver medals over bronze.
This system did not favor our division’s ranking. By comparison, Dinagat island division ranked higher than Bislig for the first time, because it has raked in enough gold in their ‘specialized’ event in archery on which Bislig and other divisions had no entry. Dinagat didn’t do well in other events but it has secured enough gold to keep their lead against other divisions.
In fairness to our division, we could have outperformed more than half of the participating divisions if the method used was the point system. Especially that in group events we have proven to be a strong contender. Our second finish in all of the Volleyball categories would have easily propelled us to the top 5 Divisions because in the point system, group events are given bigger points. However, our weak standing in the individual events pulled us down in the medal tally system.
Kitchen on fire
I would never consider myself an authority to rate the food prepared during the CRAM. I am the kind of person who eats whatever it is on the plate and do not follow a strict athletic diet. However, here are the things I heard from other people which should be heard and considered for the CRAM next year. After all, our athletes’ physically and mental health would depend much on the food they eat.
1. The food wasn’t enough? There were a few reports about some athletes and coaches who had to eat in restaurants because there wasn’t food left for them. Of course, this didn’t fall on deaf ears when coaches opened this up in the meetings and the kitchen in-charge was asked to explain. It wasn’t clear to me really how would such a thing happen ,when in a physically strenuous event like this we should expect everyone to be hungry and there should be ‘more than enough’ food in the kitchen. The good thing was, the kitchen people became true to their words and there was no ‘food shortage’ up to the last day.
2. The food was too oily, too bland, too ‘un-athletic’. We have different taste buds and we grew up eating food prepared in different manner. Some preferred it spicy, oily, bland, salty (and the palatal adjective goes on) … the bottom line is, we just can’t please all those taste buds. But there was this food which received too much hullabaloo: the sausage served in breakfast that looked too good but tasted differently (so they say). I’ll take it from the word of this seasoned coach who said that it seemed the menu wasn’t thought of carefully, there were too much greasy food and less ‘sinabaw’.
3. One of the changes this year was that the coaches were asked to join eating with the athletes unlike in the previous year. With a very limited area offered to us by the host school, it was the most practical thing to do. And besides, the same practice is done in the national games. I don’t understand why some coaches have to make a buzz about it when it’s in fact a good thing to eat side by side with those adorable athletesJ. What better way to eat than to see those lovely smiles from #Dacuycuy.
4. I think everyone should give the kitchen people a salute. They had to wake up early and sleep late to feed 400+ mouths. They are teachers who took some days off from feeding the minds so they could feed our empty stomachs.
Cleanest Billeting Quarters and most disciplined delegation
This award didn’t come easy. The division hired two handsome looking gentlemen to keep the toilets clean after Dr. Francia and others had to clean the toilets themselves. (to be continued)
