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What Makes Nations Win? UP CIDS, CHK, and PSC Host Public Forum on Building a Sustainable Philippine Elite Sport System

PASIG CITY, Philippines — On September 30, 2026, athletes, coaches, National Sports Association (NSA) administrators, and researchers gathered at the Philippine Sports Institute, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Complex, Pasig City for the public forum “What Makes Nations Win? Context, Conditions, and a Sustainable Philippine Elite Sport System”. Co-organized by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) and the UP College of Human Kinetics (UP CHK), in partnership with the PSC Philippine Sports Institute (PSI), the event examined the institutional and policy conditions shaping Philippine sports governance.

 Policy Angle & Research Findings

Framed within the UP CIDS–CHK project “Understanding Elite Sport Systems in the Philippines and Thailand: Context Conditions, Governance, and Policy Directions,” the forum aimed to shift national sports policy beyond surface-level inputs such as funding and facilities, toward addressing broader systemic and institutional conditions.

Asst. Prof. Ralph Andrew A. Ramos delivering the foundational research presentation during the public forum

UP CHK Project Leader Asst. Prof. Ralph Andrew Ramos presented findings from the Elite Sport System Context Conditions Questionnaire (ES-CCQ), which surveyed 233 Philippine elite sport stakeholders across 20 sports.

The study identified six interconnected contextual factors explaining 65.3% of variance in stakeholder perceptions:

  1. Development Standards (fairness, inclusion, safe sports, protection from abuse/doping);
  2. Transnational Influence (international policy influence and expertise);
  3. Culture, Visibility & Athlete Welfare;
  4. Belief System & Cultural Legitimacy (public support and elite sports as a career);
  5. Historical Development (institutional legacies and reforms); and
  6. Legal Environment, Pathways & Athlete Support.

A key finding highlighted a strong positive correlation (r = .615) between Development Standards and the Legal Environment, Pathways & Athlete Support, indicating that clear legal frameworks directly strengthen participant protection and athletic pathways.

Expert Insights & Forum Outcomes

(L–R) Asst. Prof. Ralph Andrew Ramos, Prof. Dennis Blanco, Ms. Pearl Managuelod, and Atty. Alberto Agra engage with participants during the panel discussion

The forum featured expert responses addressing key policy dimensions:

  • Historical Governance: Dennis V. Blanco, DPA (UP Diliman) examined how past political and administrative decisions continue to shape present sporting structures.
  • Legal Frameworks: Alberto C. Agra (Pilipinas Climbing / POC) analyzed how laws, organizational mandates, and policy implementation affect athlete pathways from “rules to reality”.
  • High-Performance Standards: Pearl Anne D. Managuelod (Program Director, PSI / Safe Sport Philippines) highlighted the need for athlete-centered support, mental health safeguarding, and sports science integration.
PSI Program Director and Safe Sport Philippines Co-Founder Ms. Pearl Anne D. Managuelod shares perspective on high-performance frameworks and athlete-centered care

During the moderated public forum led by Asst. Prof. Edward Kho of UP CHK, participating athletes, coaches, and NSA leaders identified critical systemic changes needed in Philippine sports:

  • Transitioning from short-term support tied to major games toward sustained, multi-year athlete-centered development.
  • Addressing resource inequalities between popular and emerging sports, eliminating patronage (“palakasan”) politics, and establishing continuous coaching education.
  • Building a unified, long-term national sports development policy that integrates grassroots talent identification with elite high-performance pathways.
Dr. Rosalie Arcala Hall, UP CIDS Executive Director, offering concluding remarks during the public forum at the PhilSports Complex

Formally closing the forum, UP CIDS Executive Director Dr. Rosalie Arcala Hall reaffirmed CIDS’s commitment to translating research evidence into actionable policy recommendations for a more coordinated and sustainable Philippine sport system.