Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino is spearheading the development of the country’s grassroots sports program to harness athletes who can contribute to excellence and national solidarity.
An avid sports fan whose brother, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, recently gained a fresh four-year term as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Francis Tolentino launched some key initiatives to help the youth get into sports.
Tolentino, for one, is the prime mover behind the Philippine Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC) Games, a multi-sport event that aims to produce future leaders in sports, military service, and other professions.
“Beyond being a sports event, the ROTC Games aim to develop the skills and talents and cultivate a deeper sense of nationalism among the youth,” said Tolentino, whose highly successful tourney drew the participation of over a thousand reservists and cadets from all over the country.
“I see future leaders appearing from the ranks in sports, military service, and even in other professions. All these things considered; this multi-sport event is truly an enormous success.”
Women in sports
At the local level, he is also backing the formation of the Cavite TOL Patriots who will represent his home province in the inaugural season of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
“The formation of the team signals a new era for women’s sports in the country,” said Tolentino after welcoming over a hundred female basketball players who tried out for slots in the Patriots lineup last November 23 and 24 in Tagaytay City.
Coach Norman Manguinao led the tryouts, and Coach Angelica Valera of Cavite State University.
John Kallos, an official from the WMPBL, gave the hopefuls a pep talk to encourage them to continue developing their skills in pursuit of their basketball dream.
“With more avenues being opened, I hope to advance the skill and competitive level of Filipina basketball players to prepare them for potential international opportunities,” he added.
The very first tournament of the WMPBL will kick off in January 2025.
He recently attended the Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools to “fostering meaningful connections” among its members through the staging of its annual sports and cultural events.
“Through events like this, we see the strength of Mindanao’s youth, its culture, and its ability for collaboration. In a world often divided by differences, your efforts to unite diverse communities through sports and culture resonated deeply,” said Tolentino, who urged his audience to continue upholding the principles of fairness, respect, and camaraderie in playing the games.
He added that sports development is not just about creating athletes: it is about building a stronger nation. PR
