By Ruben A.Veloria

BALER, Quezon Province- Sambals province will not be known alone for its sweetest mango in the world, as Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is gearing up to established the Zambales Sports Academy this year.
Zambales Gov. Ebdane disclosed that the provincial government is planning to build a sports academy in the Capitol town of the province. The idea came into the agenda after the president of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) mused to Gov. Ebdane if it is possible to open a Sports Academy in the province. The governor accepted the challenge.
Gov. Ebdane was in Baler to show full support to Zambales athletes who are participating the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association in Baler, Quezon Province.
“Actually, we already have a similar plan,” Ebdane noted, adding that he already asked Division Superintendent William Fallorin to develop a program for Zambales where all student-athletes from elementary and high school shall stay in a government subsidized dormitory in Iba.
“The idea was that all Zambales athletes, boys and girls, all categories shall stay dormitories which were built and subsidized by the government, while continuing their studies in the Sports Academy in Iba. So, you will not start practicing only one month before the competition,” Ebdane said.
Student-athletes shall attend academic classes every morning daily, then in the afternoon they would have time to practice their main sports, however, they should also learn other sports.
Ebdane said that Provincial Board Members, and most of the mayors and the Zambales DepEd, are believing that the project could be built. “With the participation of all sectors the project can really be done,” he said.
As for the academy, Ebdane said that he already asked the DEPED Zambales if possible to construct the elementary and high school facilities near the Iba Municipal Hall. “I believe we could do it in five years-time from this day on, and there is already fund we could use,” the governor said.
Gov. Ebdane believes that if the academy and the complimentary facilities are to be finished, it is impossible to defeat Zambales in most sports competition, in CLRAA or in Palarong Pambansa.
Meanwhile, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. took time to accompany the 400-strong delegation of the Zambales Province in the on-going Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) simultaneously held in Quezon Province from April 6 to13, and Tarlac from March 21 to 27.
Gov. Ebdane who arrived in Baler with some local government and academic officials told the 387 Zambales delegation in Baler, “We are not thinking only about winning, but we should think how to deliver our best efforts to win in each event. And when we failed, better luck next time. Never skip about respect for all athletes,” the governor said.
Accordingly, Zambales delegation in Baler compose of 272 athletes and coaches, 14 trainers, 33 technical officials, and 68 school division officials, led by School Division head William Roderick Fallorin.
Also present to show support to the athletes were 2nd Dist. Zambales Rep. Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz, Zambales Provincial Consultant for Engineering and Development Engr. Domingo Mariano, and Board Member Jun Runsdedt Ebdane.