The constant glorification of the “hirap” stories of Filipino athletes is not inspiring. It is insulting. Whether it is a student-athlete from a public, private school, local state university, or a national player training on a tight budget, we have a toxic habit of praising their struggles while ignoring the system that forces them to suffer. Instead, it is an excuse for neglect.
According to the government budget reports, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) operates on roughly ₱1 billion annually, which is small compared to sports-centric nations. And, this limited funding spills down to the branches of institutions and programs, leaving student-athletes to compensate for systemic shortcomings.
In the Philippines, “lumalaban kahit walang suporta” has become a favorite headline. We see viral photos and videos of athletes training on cracked concrete or using worn-out gear, and we call it heart. But this narrative is a trap: by romanticizing their struggles, we shift the responsibility away from the government and sports organizations and place it entirely on the shoulders of the athletes.
Moreover, Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s case illustrates this perfectly, although the PSC announced financial assistance for her trainings and international competitions, her family clarified that they had not received any of the promised funds, forcing them to shoulder travel and tournament expenses privately (Tiebreaker Times, 2025). Her success was celebrated as national pride, yet institutional support back home remains limited.
For every gold medalist who receives a hero’s welcome, there are hundreds of athletes whose careers end in silence. And, they did not quit just because they lack “puso,” but they quit because they lack food, shoes, support, and fair allowance.
In many cases, athletes are expected to balance heavy academic loads with grueling training schedules and they often compete in outdated facilities that welcome injury. Furthermore, many athletes even spend their own money or rely on small donations just to travel and play.
The media and the public only seem to care when a medal is won. Until then, the athlete is left to navigate a broken system alone. Above all, when we only celebrate the “hirap” of our athletes, we make the failure of our government seem normal.
Filipino athletes should not have to suffer first just to be valued later. In fact, resilience is a wonderful trait, but not a substitute for a functioning sports program. In addition, success should be the result of a solid foundation and it should not be a miracle performed by an exhausted student-athlete.
To summarize, our national sports commissions and schools must stop selling grit and start providing real funding. Until then, every victory will remain a reminder of a system that only succeeds because it fails its athletes. National pride should be built on how we treat our players during training, not just how we cheer for them on the podium.
Written by JB Nitura, Insight PH
JB Nitura, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
