PSC Children's Games to go international

AFTER a series of successful staging of Children’s Games held in different parts of the country since the Davao City edition was re-launched on May, this major component of the Sports for Peace program of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is eyed to go international next year.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez bared this in a press conference before the inter-faith Sports for Peace Children’s Games opened at Mergrande Ocean Resort in Toril on Friday afternoon, August 18.

Ramirez said the PSC and the Philippine Sports Institute have been receiving calls and inquiries from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad on the Children’s Games.

“We plan to go to Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and U.S. (United States) next year and plan for it in the first quarter. Bakit? Billions of money remitted by OFWs pero walang balik sa kanila. We would want to also help contribute in our small way to our OFWs. We are happy to spread this one in the country, sa makakaya, tuloy-tuloy kami,” Ramirez said.

He was joined by PSC Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey and Celia Kiram, United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Calinan’s Pastor Roger Lofranco, Ulama region head Aleem Mahmod Adilao, St. Jude Parish priest Pete Lamata, chairman of the Archdiocese Commission Inter-Faith Dialogue and Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera later in the opening program.

The PSC chief said the impact of the twoday Children’s Games, wherein some 300 Muslim, Christian and Lumad participants aged 12 years old and below will play together, will go a long way unlike the Batang Pinoy Games, Palarong Pambansa or Philippine National Games where athletes only play for medals.

“I firmly believe that if peacemaking is instilled in early age, you can bridge those biases in religion and culture. This is very good for the children to play together,” Ramirez added.

He targets to hold 50 Children’s Games in Mindanao, another 50 in Luzon and 50 in Visayas every year so that before the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte ends, they would have already conducted hundreds of Children’s Games all over the country.

Ramirez also said the Children’s Games being cited by Unesco inspired them to improve and better the program.”We hope that the barangays and local governments will also conduct games for children even without us so we can spread this in the countryside.”

Adilao, for his part, thanked the PSC for inviting the Muslim community to take part in Games. “Ang mga kabataang Muslim kung papuntahin sa school o sa church (mahirap) pero kung imbitahin sa padula (games) tulad nito malakas sila. Dun namin sila hahabulin sa mga sports na yan. Malaking tulong ito sa mga Muslim children,” Adilao said, adding the children need to also exercise their minds and keep them playing with other children despite of religion or culture.

The children are being facilitated by sports volunteers from their respective communities who underwent training last week. Filipino games such as water relay, Sisa Went to the Market, Cat and Mouse, Catch the Ball and Skipping Rope will be featured on Saturday, August 19. Sun.Star Davao