Jaworski paid a visit to De Vega-Mercado last Wednesday in Meycauayan City to extend his condolence to the De Vega family for the death of Francisco "Tatang" de Vega, who served as Lydia’s coach for nearly two decades.

The two sports greats sat down for nearly four hours and talked on a lot of things, especially the present sad state of Philippine sports.

In particular, Jaworski asked Lydia why she is working in Singapore as a teacher-coach when her skills learned over the years could serve Filipino athletes in good stead.

"Bakit ka nasa Singapore at nagtuturo ng future athletes na makakalaban ng mga anak natin? Dapat dito ka nagko-coach. Dapat nandito ka para humanap ng magmamana ng korona mo," the former player-coach of club asked.

In response, Lydia said: "Wala akong magagawa. I have no place here in my own country. I tried to stay despite numerous offers from overseas, hoping to work right here and discover, develop athletes to succeed me. Wala naming magbigay sa akin ng chance."

Lydia, who has been working in Singapore for the past six years, related that in the Lion City kids are already being taught sports while still in kindergarten. "Sa Singapore, kindergarten pa lang minumulat na ang mga bata sa sports and arts. Pagdating sa primary alam na kung ano ang sport na bagay sa isang bata."

Both noted that after the country’s overall win in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines plummeted to sixth overall two years later in Thailand.

"There’s only one reason for that, sports in the wrong hands. It’s not our athletes because they have proven many times that they can compete against the best in the world," said Jaworski.

"Kasi naman, ‘yung mga dapat makatulong, like us former athletes, are not being tapped (to help). Kung sino ‘yung mga walang alam sa sports, siyang nandoon at nagpapatakbo," Diay responded.

Eddie Alinea, Business Insight Malaya