One of the main reason why we created PinoyDarts is to elevate the sport of darts in the Philippines. We aim to do this by becoming the go-to resource for the latest happenings, developments, tournaments, events highlights, and updates in the Philippine darts community. We also aim to feature insights from some of the key personalities and players (hopefully) and darts veterans in the country.

Kaya nga naman we are inviting everyone to connect with us, send us a message, an email, so that we can work together to further promote darts in the Philippines. For example, you can send us details of your events and tournaments (or even products–pero ibang isapan na ito, siyempre).

Sure, we have the National Darts Federation of the Philippines (NDFP), but they can only do so much. They are doing a great job in holding tournaments, and in a way, promoting the “big leagues”, kumbaga. And such tournaments are increasingly seeing wider sponsorships–considering the names of people connected to such events–and definitely increasing the awareness of darts in the Philippines.

Pero I think, kulang pa eh.

PinoyDarts’ main goal is to further promote and popularize the sport of darts in the Philippines by leveraging a dedicated website, fostering a vibrant darts community, and increasing participation and awareness among Filipinos. At kung maaari nga ay makatulong ang PinoyDarts upang magkaroon ng malawakang liga ng darts kagaya ng sa PBA, which is televised nationwide.

However, sobrang matagal pa iyon. As in. Isa kasi sa mga nakikita kong problema sa darts community ng bansa is the fact na walang masyadong support mula sa government natin. Kung sabagay, even ang mga Olympic commitees nga every time may preparation para sa Olympic Games, lagi na lang may problema. Dito pa kaya sa sport na ito, na hindi naman itinuturing na sport ng karamihan, especially those na hindi talaga aware.

And bakit nga ba hindi ganoon kalawak ang awareness ng darts sa Pinas?

Consider basketball. Basketball ang pinaka-popular na sport sa Pilipinas. It has a large and passionate fan base. Tapos, nilalaro ito sa iba’t ibang level–from casual street balls to professional leagues. At dahil dito, since almost every one knows basketball, it enjoys widespread coverage sa media.

Well, dinala rin kasi ng US ang basketball sa Pilipinas. Tapos, since naging under US occupation ang Pilipinas after nating makawala sa mga kuko ng Kastila, naging embedded na sa kultura ng Pinoy ang sport.

And siyempre, mako-consider ngang sport ang basketball kase talaga namang physical ito. Kailangang maging malakas ang players, maging matatag, mahaba ang endurance, maging agile, etc.

And then of course, we have boxing. Napaka-popular din ng sport na ito sa bansa, lalo na’t maraming Filipino boxers na naging worldwide champions sa iba’t ibang level or divisions. Kaya naman kapag may laban ang isang Pinoy boxer para sa world championship, eh talaga namang tumitigil ang buong Pilipinas para lang manood dito. Remember ang mga laban ni Manny Pacquiao. Sabi nga nila, wala raw crime during those times kase even mga kawatan eh nanonood ng laban–despite sobrang dami ng commercials.

Pacquiao, incidentally, is a huge fan and promoter of darts in his part of the Philippines, kaya good for the sport.

And speaking of sports–boxing, like basketball, is very physical. Much, much physical, kaya naman talagang considered sport siya.

Which is why talaga namang ang hirap i-classify na sport ang darts. Kaya dahil dito, wala man lang coverage sa national TV natin ang nangyayari sa darts. And therefore, lalong hindi lumalaganap ang sport.

The lack of consistent media coverage and promotion has made it challenging for darts to gain widespread attention and generate a larger fan base here in the Philippines. Unlike in Europe–where darts is a really big thing.

Even ang billiards, mayroong media coverage dito sa Pinas. Remember those times na namamayagpag si Efren “Bata” Reyes at si Francisco “Django” Bustamante? Very much covered sila sa media dito sa Pilipinas, ‘di ba?

Bakit kaya? Eh, hindi rin namang itinuturing na “sport” ang billiard? Bagkus, considered indoor game pa rin ito gaya ng darts.

Pero talaga namang may national TV coverage kapag laban na nina Bata at Django.

Maybe because of their popularity or caliber.

Parang si EJ Obiena ng pole vault. Even though hindi very much covered ng media ng Pinas ang pole vault, or any other track event, which are all considered sports, dahil sa sumikat si EJ, eh talagang nabibigyan siya ng attention ng media. Which should very well be. Especially now na he qualified for Paris Olympics in 2024.

However, here’s the thing. Maraming magagaling na darts players dito sa Pilipinas, however, they have yet to really conquer the world stage. Sure, dito sa ASIA, marami nang laging nakakapanalo ng mga big events. Nariyan na sina Lourence Ilagan, Ian Perez, Noel Malicdem, at maraming marami pang iba.

However, despite this, mas malaki pa sana ang opportunity ng mga Pinoy na maging mas kilala pa sa larangan ng darts, or even win in the world stage (not just in Asia), kung talagang magkakaroon tayo ng mas malawakang pool ng talent. Sure, maraming talented at talagang nasusuportahan ng mga sponsors, pero kulang pa eh. For example, I might be wrong, pero parang ang approach ng China sa mga sporting competitions. Dahil sobrang dami ng tao sa kanila, sobrang dami rin ng potential. And dahil dito, talaga namang maraming napipili at dini-develop–at least those that have the talent–para maging national player or representative.

My point is, the more na magkakaroon tayo ng mas maraming players ng darts sa Pilipinas (out of 100 million Pinoys), the more chances na magkakaroon tayo ng mga pambato sa worldwide events. Such that maging dominant force sila sa pool of players in said events.

Kaya lang, wala eh, kumbaga, tayu-tayo lang ang nakakaalam ng darts. Marami pang Pinoy ang hindi aware sa potential ng darts from a sporting career standpoint, or even from a patriotic standpoint.

And then of course, maraming factors kung bakit hindi pa ganoon ka-widespread ang awareness ng darts sa Pinas. Media coverage, government support, national programs, etc. Pero, just for the purpose of this post, again I would like to say na unless magkaroon ng player ng darts na maging super popular at magaling at marating ang championship stage sa world level, hindi masyadong mapapansin ito ng media, and as such, magiging mas mabagal ang pagpapalago at pagpapayabong ng darts dito sa Pinas.

That’s just my opinion on this front. And I can supplement such stand, pero, that will be for another post.

Ronin