A Tragic Tale of a Leading Athlete

I guess sooner or later, I just might have to take up the cudgels for one of the country’s athletes who promises to climb to the top of marathon runners. I am referring to the sorry tale of Eric Panique who went back to Manila yesterday training for the Southeast Asian Games and other major marathon events.

Luckily, Panique yesterday received help from a local personality who paid his plane fare to Manila. Otherwise, the marathoner who won silver in the last SEAG games in Indonesia, could never have managed to return to Manila for his training.

Although now a resident of Himamaylan City, Panique hardly receives P3,000 a month in support for him and his family. Even then, that sometimes gets delayed or is kept from him.

And, yet, he recently bannered Himamaylan City during the marathon run in Kabankalan City where my son, Rolando Junior had participated. Monday evening, Panique visited Jun Jun at the Cavile residence in Kabankalan City to bid him farewell as he was leaving yesterday for Manila.

Panique is a story of how our sportsmen neglect our athletes. Leaving them to their devices.

He had finished high school studies in E.B. Magalona where he worked as “karga-tapas”.

This is where he first developed his love for the long distance run. Later, he participated in several marathon events, with his transfer to Himamaylan City because of his wife.

Even while he already registered a name for himself, Panique remained just that — a commoner.

Last year, he won second place to Kenyan runner in the SEAG in Indonesia. The silver medal earned Panique the cover of a runner’s magazine.

But, unfortunately, he just received a hamburger and a local softdrinks despite his winding up in the cover of the magazine which also played up his story. What is surprising is that while Himamaylan reportedly honored his SEAG feat, Panique never received the support that should have been given him by his city. Surprising. Because the father of Himamaylan Mayor Tinto Bascon, Dodong, is himself a basketball champion and still a sportsman.

During their talk, Panique revealed to Jun Jun the fare that he and his other companions used to be fed in their Baguio training camp. “A small carrot mixed with dried fish plus plenty of rice,” he told my son. Jun Jun, himself a marathon runner who had participated in several long distance runs in Europe - Budapest, Rome, etc. - could not do anything much for him. He has to return to Dublin, Ireland, soon.

“I hope Dad, you tell our countrymen about the plight of Panique,” Jun Jun told me yesterday. I hope that Newks Puentevella may be able to extend to him a helping hand. After all, Panique is a silver medalist in Marathon and could still wrest the gold from the Kenyan runner given the support he needs. Ano, Newks?*