PROVINCIAL SPORTS AND GAMES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

YEAR2011

BATANG PINOY SOUTHERN LUZON QUALIFYING LEG

MEETING WITH PSC September 12, 2011 Governor’s Office and Laguna Sports Complex

PROVINCIAL SPORTS AND GAMES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

YEAR2011

Ocular Inspection at the Laguna Sports Complex

PROVINCIAL SPORTS AND GAMES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

YEAR2011

LAGUNA TO HOST REGIONAL BATANG PINOY

While waiting for the confirmation of its 2012 Palarong Pambansa hosting, the country’s rising sports capital was picked by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as the host of its Batang Pinoy Southern Luzon Qualifying Leg on December 4-7, 2011. PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia, in his letter to Governor Jeorge “E.R.” Ejercito Estregan, said that the PSC Board has particularly selected the province of Laguna as the host of the Batang Pinoy Southern Luzon Qualifying Leg since Laguna and the PSC have “the common desire to extensively propagate a sporting culture among the young.” Batang Pinoy is an LGU-based national competition for children 13-15 years old. Commissioner Jolly Gomez added that this program is different from the Department of Education’s Palarong Pambansa since it includes out-of-school children. Other regional Batang Pinoy hosts include Zamboanga City, Dumaguete City, Baguio City, and Makati City. The national Batang Pinoy will be hosted by Naga City on December 10-13, 2011. Outstanding athletes of the Batang Pinoy will have the opportunity to become part of the national developmental pool that will represent the country in the 2nd Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China in 2014. Commissioners Chito Loyzaga and Jolly Gomez, personally presented the details of the Batang Pinoy Regional Competition hosting to Chief of Staff Carlos Dolendo and Sports Head Albert Abarquez last September 12, 2011, at the Governor’s Office. Other attendees of the meeting were PSC Legal Head Atty. Angela De Guinio, PSC Marketing Head Albert Almendralejo, PSC Planning Head Dr. Lauro Domingo, Sports Development Officer III Gerardo Cantada, Mr. Bong Arcanghel, and SK President/Board Member Von Mark Anthony Dacdac. Other Board Members like 2nd District Board Member Neil Andrew Nocon, who plans to build a Rizal Monument inside the Sports Complex as tribute to our National Hero as a sportsman, and 3rd District Board Member Reynaldo Paras have already expressed their full support to the sports development programs of the province including its hosting of the Batang Pinoy. Mr. Dolendo emphasized that the Batang Pinoy hosting is very timely since it coincides with the grassroots development program of the Provincial Sports and Games Development Office, under Governor Estregan’s Sports Excellence Revolution. Meanwhile, Sports Head Albert Abarquez added that like the Batang Pinoy, the province’s Gov.ER Batang Laguna Program also aims to nurture home-grown athletes and transform them into world-class talents. What’s in it for Laguna? Commissioner Gomez said that Laguna will definitely benefit from the Batang Pinoy hosting. He explained that the hosting comes with its “learning components.” During the Batang Pinoy, the PSC will be tapping the province’s local officiating officials to manage the games and this will give them the opportunity to officiate in higher level sports competition. Moreover, the PSC and various National Sports Associations (NSAs) will provide free clinics, trainings, and seminars for Laguna’s athletes and coaches prior to the Batang Pinoy. The Philippine National Athletic Team headed by Coach Roselyn Hamero, for instance, will be starting its three–week training camp at the Laguna Sports Complex starting September 15, 2011. Aside from these advantages on the province’s sports development programs, the said regional event will also give Laguna the opportunity to boost its tourism sector. Laguna can showcase its tourism destinations, native products, and souvenir items to more than 3,000 delegates of the Batang Pinoy. Moreover, Laguna’s premier hotels and resorts can accommodate other guests including athletes’ parents and sports enthusiasts from the entire region.