LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – The province celebrates another win as the Pangasinan Futsal Team emerges as the Overall Champion in the recent International Futsal Championship 2025 held in Bali, Indonesia. The Pangasinan Football Association (PFA) led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, has been instrumental in promoting futsal in the province. PFA has actively organized various tournaments to include the Festival of Futsal which was participated in by top teams and players from the region. This event has helped develop young homegrown talent further promoting the sport throughout the region. Expressing appreciation to the Pangasinan Futsal Team, the governor commended their hard work and dedication. “ Your victory brings honor to the province and the entire nation,” he said. Some of the initiatives undertaken by the province include key developments such as Futsal Coaching Courses, a joint undertaking of the Pangasinan Provincial Government and the PFA in cooperation with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium in 2023. Previously, Pangasinan team won the U15 Futsal Boys National Champioship in the Batang Pinoy 2024 which proves the province’s strength and dominance in the sport. As earlier disclosed by Mr. Leo Arnaiz, Consultant-PCDTO, OIC-NRSCC, , character formation in sports is an important factor, even as he added that coaches play pivotal role in developing the character of the players. “A good coach can change a game, an excellent coach can change a life,” he said. Highly supportive of Governor Guico’s sports thrust, Arnaiz believes Pangasinan has potential futsal players who can be honed to become world champions in the future. The Pangasinan Futsal Team composition is as follows: Head Coach: Mr. Leopoldo C. Arnaiz; Coach: Victoriano P. Jugo; Assistant Coach: Cristopher Shaun A. Sison; Manager/Physical Consultant: Roderick T. De Guzman; Players: 1) Jerimie Gian Esteves Acosta; 2) Roderick Gamboa Bautista; 3) Cris Lawrence Doquenia Gonzales; 4) Jester Andrei Ragacho Lagmay; 5) John Christopher Necerio Oduca; 6) Alexander Xiane Hizon Osana; 7) Gabriel Naboa Rivera;  Al Rhaji Espiritu Roldan; 9) John Delmar Abamid Sagun; 10) Jerick Bebis Salting; 11) Michael Hermogeno Santos, Jr.; 12) Jiorence Gamboa Veloria; 13) Mike Russel Cabalse Vetonio; 14) Carl Kenth Aviles Ventanilla. (Ruby F. Rayat-PIMRO)      

By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito on Friday ,Oct. 10, personally handed initial cash assistance out of his own pocket and pledged additional support from provincial government funds to Alexander R. Tagure Jr., who has been named to the Philippine team for the 3rd Asian Youth Games, set for October 22 to 31 in Manama, Bahrain—becoming the first-ever athlete from Nueva Vizcaya to compete at the Asian Youth Games. “Alexander will not walk alone to Manama. Nueva Vizcaya stands behind him with concrete support for his preparation and competition so he can fight with heart for the Philippine team and make our province proud,” Governor Gambito said. Tagure was accompanied to the governor’s office by his uncle and coach, Erwin Tagure, and his mother, Virginia Ramos Tagure. The 17-year-old native of Brgy. Gabut, Dupax del Sur,is the sixth of nine siblings and a member of the Ibaloi‑Kalanguya indigenous community. A decorated martial arts athlete, Tagure has earned the following honors: 2023 Palarong Pambansa Gold Medalist 2024 Batang Pinoy Gold Medalist – Wushu Sanda 3x Muay Thai Nationals Gold Medalist 2023 Most Promising Muay Thai Athlete 3x Luzon Leg Muay Thai Gold Medalist 2024 Kickboxing National Championships Gold Medalist 2024 Best Junior Kickboxer 2024 40th Team Lakay Grapplers Cup – Best Submission 2025 42nd Team Lakay Grapplers Cup Gold Medalist 2025 Northern International Jiu-Jitsu Championships Double Gold Medalist With provincial support in place, Tagure heads back to training while Gov Gambito urges everyone to cheer him on.      

NAGA CITY, Philippines –Through to the initiative of Mayor Leni Robredo, the National Milo Marathon is making its long-awaited return to Naga City this Sunday, October 12, drawing over 10,000 runners for one of the country’s biggest and most prestigious footraces. Race organizer Francis Barja confirmed that the Naga leg—held last in the city in 2017—was included in this year’s lineup of qualifying races upon the request of Mayor Robredo. The marathon will kick off and conclude at Ninoy and Cory Avenue in Central Business District II and is one of 25 legs being held across the Philippines. Organized by RUNRIO, the event will feature 3-kilometer, 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and 21-kilometer runs. The 21K race will start first, with subsequent races taking off at 30-minute intervals. To ensure safety and smooth conduct, 400 volunteers from the Naga City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, radio communication groups, Public Safety Office, medical teams from the city government, and members of the media will be deployed throughout the race route. Following the marathon, an awarding ceremony and an inter-school cheer dance competition will be held at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum. Participants and spectators are advised to observe safety protocols and traffic advisories throughout the event. I via Jason B. Neola

Mark your calendars for October 12, 2025 (Sunday) and be part of HOME RUN FOR EVERY JUAN happening at Baguio City Hall! This fun run is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of the 2025 National Housing Summit, with the support of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). Together, let’s take steps towards building sustainable housing and inclusive communities where every Filipino family has a place to call home. Choose your distance and challenge yourself: 3K – PHP 600 7K – PHP 800 16K – PHP 1,200 Gun Start Times: 16K – 4:15 AM 7K – 4:45 AM 3K – 5:00 AM All routes start and finish at Baguio City Hall, with a safe and scenic course designed to match your pace—whether you’re running for fun, fitness, or the fulfillment of supporting a meaningful cause. REGISTER NOW! https://bit.ly/4l7jP4T Let’s run together, not just for ourselves, but for every Juan. See you at the starting line!      

  Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Philippines — American basketball pros Sam Vincent and Taj McWilliams-Franklin are visiting the Philippines to participate in a series of engagements that will showcase American excellence in basketball and empower young Filipino athletes and leaders as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program. This initiative strengthens people-to-people ties between Filipinos and Americans through their shared love for sports, while inspiring the next generation of leaders. Vincent is an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 1986 while McWilliams-Franklin is a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock in 2008 and the Minnesota Lynx in 2011.  Both players transitioned to coaching following their successful professional careers as players. During their visit, Vincent and McWilliams-Franklin will lead basketball clinics and leadership seminars in Alaminos City in Pangasinan, organized in partnership with the local government. The visiting U.S. Sports Envoys bring their professional and collegiate coaching experiences to train young athletes in basketball fundamentals while fostering the values of leadership, dedication, and teamwork that will help participants succeed in their professional lives. The visit underscores a love of basketball in the United States and the Philippines—one of many facets of the people-to-people ties that form the bedrock of the U.S.-Philippines bilateral relationship. “Basketball has long been a shared passion between Americans and Filipinos.  Through the U.S. Sports Envoys program in the Philippines, we celebrate that connection while also empowering young people with the leadership, dedication, and teamwork skills that sports uniquely provide,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Y. Robert Ewing. The U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program sends passionate, inspirational professional athletes to engage communities across the world.  The program promotes people-to-people ties and empowers the next generation of athletes as leaders through sport.  Since its launch in 2005, more than 300 envoys representing 24 different sports have traveled on behalf of the U.S. government to deliver impactful programs and strengthen bilateral relations.    

New Clark City, Philippines —  As a part of the agency’s broader vision to transform New Clark City in Tarlac into a premier sports destination,  the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has partnered with the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) for the establishment and development of the Philippine Tennis Center within the property. On Wednesday, 10 September 2025, BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang and PHILTA Secretary General John Rey M. Tiangco, who also serves as Navotas City Mayor, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), paving the way for the establishment of the Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City. “I have always believed that athletic excellence does not begin on the world stage. It begins in our communities. That’s why the BCDA is extremely proud and looking forward to this project. This helps us ensure that every Filipino child with a dream of becoming a tennis player– regardless of where they come from– has the chance to pursue it,” Engr. Bingcang said. In a gesture of gratitude, Hon. Tiangco extended his appreciation to the BCDA for their new partnership. “The perfect place to build this facility is no other than New Clark city because of our shared vision for sports tourism,” Hon. Tiangco said during the ceremony. For the project, the BCDA has allocated approximately 10 hectares within New Clark City, aiming to build a world-class tennis center adhering to international standards. This new facility will not only provide top-tier resources but also bolster grassroots development and youth training programs for tennis players. This initiative is a key part of New Clark City’s vision to become a smart, green, and resilient urban center, as well as a national sports hub. The new facility is expected to boost sports tourism and stimulate economic growth while providing quality, accessible sports facilities for both athletes and the general public. Furthermore, the project aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims to position the country as a hub for sports, wellness, and tourism. New Clark City houses top-tier facilities, including World Athletics-certified Athletics Stadium, which has a 20,000-seating capacity with a nine-lane 400-meter track and field, and another four-lane warm-up track; as well as the World Aquatics-approved Aquatics Center, boasting a total seating capacity of 2,000, a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool and a diving pool. Additionally, the 525-unit Athletes’ Village provides accommodations for participating and training athletes. The rising metropolis also serves as the home for the National Academy of Sports, for which the BCDA has also committed to constructing a dormitory and dining hall to accommodate 400 student-athletes. Also present during the ceremony were BCDA Chairperson Atty. Larry B. Paredes and PHILTA Executive Director Marie Antoinette S. Mendoza.      

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines — Reinforcing its position as a major sports destination in the country, Clark Freeport will host the Sports Tourism Forum at the SMX Convention Center Clark on November 7, 2025. Sports and tourism stakeholders from national sports associations and clubs, local government units, hotel and resort executives, sports and MICE event organizers, sports facility managers and corporate sponsors from across the country are expected to attend this one day forum, organized by Philippine Sports Turismo Alliance, Inc. supported by Clark Development Corporation, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotion Board, SMX Clark and the Bases Conversion  and Development Authority. Strongly supporting the call of President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr, to make sports events a catalyst to boosting tourism in the country, Sports Turismo Alliance, Inc has intensified its role in organizing a series of fora across the country with the support of the Department of Tourism, under the leadership of Secretary Christina G Frasco. “The Philippines is off the starting blocks to prove itself as a great sports host country. International sporting events such as the FIBA World Cup in 2023, the ongoing FIVB World Championship and the forthcoming FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, are great testimonies of our capability and popularity as a sports hub,” explained Charles Lim, President and CEO of Sports Turismo Alliance, Inc. as well as founder and chairman of the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. A power packed panel of international and local speakers, headed by the President of the International Children’s Games, Mr Igor Topole will further intensify the Philippines thrust in sports tourism. Other speakers invited include  Ms Maggie Hsu the Sports Administrator of the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, Ms Marga M Nograles, COO of the Tourism Promotion Board, Mr Patrick Gregorio, Chairman, Philippine Sports Commission, Ms Princess Galura, President and General Manager, Sunrise Events, Inc., Mr Carlo Sampan, Milo Marathon Program Director and Mr Robby Alabado, Director Department of Tourism “Maximizing and sustaining our sports programs and facilities is still a challenge for major sports hubs while local sports tournaments can be developed in small cities into national and international events. These are topics we will be discussing at the Forum,” revealed Lim. Economic, cultural, socio, environmental and sports development impact on host cities will also be tackled by the panel of expert speakers. Clark Development Corporation will host a cultural dinner closing ceremony at the launching of the Happening On The Green for all delegates. For registration and more information, contact arantxa.selrahco@gmail.com (+639208404817) or jade.selrahco@gmail.com (+639604374034)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  — Chaya Clear Finmokod wasn’t planning to become a Wushu athlete but simply followed her curiosity as less than a year later, the 18-year-old from the City of Pines is a Batang Pinoy 2024 gold medalist. She started training in 2023 after hearing about a combat sports program in school. “It was related to my past sport, so I got curious and asked about it. Before I knew it, I was already joining the Wushu training,” she said. But the road to Batang Pinoy 2024 wasn’t without its challenges since Chaya, who specializes in Sanda (sparring), trained two months ahead of the competition and her coach helped her and her teammates sharpen their skills and build their stamina. Still, staying consistent proved to be the most difficult part of her journey. “I tried to motivate myself, but sometimes I couldn’t attend training. But with the support and push from my coaches, I still managed to keep going until the end,” Chaya admitted. Despite the struggles, Chaya remained focused as her eyes were set on growth—not just as an athlete, but as a person. “What keeps me going is my passion for the sport, the goals I’ve set for myself, and the thought that I can always be better than I was yesterday,” she said. For Chaya, representing Baguio City at Batang Pinoy 2024 wasn’t just about the medals. “It was a great experience. It wasn’t just about the matches, but also about the fun and friendships built along the way,” she said. One of the most unforgettable moments for her was winning her semifinal match—a moment that gave her the confidence she needed to push through to the finals. When her name was finally announced as the gold medalist, Chaya felt a wave of emotions. “It felt unreal and emotional. All the hard work, sweat, and struggles paid off. I felt proud not just for myself but for everyone who supported me,” she stressed. Chaya credits her success to the people around her—coaches, teammates, and family—who pushed her forward. “They were my motivation, support system, and inspiration throughout the journey.” As for what’s next, Chaya remains committed to her training and is looking forward to more competitions and opportunities to improve, not just physically but also mentally. “The next step I want to take is focusing more on both my physical and mental growth,” she said. Chaya is proof that sometimes, all it takes is a spark of interest, a little courage, and the will to keep showing up even when it’s difficult.-Heidi V. Alonzo/Baguio PIO intern/gabykeith        

The city government of Baguio, led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, and city council members, congratulates the Baguio Airsoft Club – Airsoft Practical Shooting for successfully earning spots in the Action Air World Shoot 2025 held at Iloilo Convention Center. The team is composed of Martius Laranang, Christine Kiangan, Emmanuelle Ray Lardizabal, Pablo Miguel Palaganas, and Nicholas Caster Palaganas, who earned podium finishes in the junior categories, winning a Bronze Medal in the Junior Team Division and a Silver Medal in the Super Junior Team Division. They received a frame copy of Resolution numbered 527, Series of 2025, during the September 2 Flag Raising Ceremony at the Baguio City Multipurpose Hall. – NCO