DAVAO CITY -- It's all set to go for the staging of the Summer Children's Games 2017 on May 24 to 27 in separate venues here.
Ronnel Abrenica, chief-of-staff of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, bared this Friday in an organizational meeting at the Yellow Fin Restaurant.
Abrenica said, “We are now in the process of ironing out some details.”
Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) Davao City coordinator Mark Samante, for his part, said a Barangay Sports Education Seminar is slated on May 24 at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, a day before the games will officially start.
Barangay captains and barangay sports coordinators of the 30 participating barangays will be attending the one-day seminar.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey and PSI Davao del Norte coordinator Giovanni Gulanes will be among the resource speakers of the seminar.
Samante said, “We are starting with only 30 barangays in this launch with 10 barangays representing the three districts of Davao City. We have coordinated with the Ligangmga Barangay in selecting the participating barangays.”
The Children’s Games, designed for out-of-school and school-based children 12 years old and below, is a brainchild of Chairman Ramirez, who also spearheaded the Mindanao Children's Games through the Sports for Peace program way back in 2008.
Ramirez, in a separate meeting recently, said: “This will just be a kick off in reviving the Children's Games as we will hold the same in other parts of Mindanao including those in conflict-torn areas.”
He added that a 3-on-3 basketball, volleyball and parlor games will be featured in the three-day games that aims to cultivate a culture of peace through sports and non-sport activities, provide an avenue for children to enjoy games pursuant to PS’s mandate to provide “Sports for All,” and promote physical, social, psychological, moral and spiritual development of children through sports and sports participation.
“This is the real gold mine not the Olympics. The gold is clear by means of reforming out-of-school children and inspiring them to go to school and study since these are the future kidnappers, robbers and criminals. The Sports for Peace is part of our anti-drugs campaign in helping kids do away with vices like illegal drugs,” Ramirez said, adding that the Sports for Peace program is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to remember the poor and bring sports development in the grassroots.
Also present during the organizational meeting were PSI Mindanao coordinator Marlon Malbog, PSI Davao program officer Cholo Elegino and Liga ng mga Barangay president and Councilor January Duterte's chief-of-staff Mildred Untalan as well as Sports for Peace Core Group's Ed Fernandez, Gemima Valderama and Serge Opena. (PR)