ILOILO City – The local chief executives of the city and province of Iloilo underscored the importance of the young generation to the country during yesterday’s opening of the first-ever Philippine ROTC Games 2023-Visayas Leg.
Speaking before the registration count of 1,049 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from regions 6, 7 and 8, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. stressed that while the youth is the future of the country, in their respective localities like in Iloilo province, their contribution is already needed now.
“Here in the Visayas, in Iloilo, we don’t only need you in the future, we want you now, we need you now,” Defensor stressed.
The governor cited the effort of the provincial government to engage the youth, for one, through its Provincial Civil Defense Service, a coordinated and comprehensive approach in disaster response, public safety and public order.
“Through this, working with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), DND (Department of National Defense), Senate, and House of Representatives, we would like to further partner with you. We will not only engage you in these games but we would engage you as partners of the province and the whole country in disaster response, public safety and order and other emergency situations,” said Defensor.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas who was represented by Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, on the other hand, acknowledged the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program that has long been a cornerstone of foster leadership, camaraderie, and profound sense of service to the nation.
He also reminded the participants from various private higher education institutions and state universities and colleges in the Visayas that “the true mission of our victory is how you exemplify the principles and values at the heart of the ROTC program.”
For his part, Sen. Francis Tolentino, who led the launch of the ROTC Games 2023, asserted in his message yesterday that “love of country is not optional. What you have done preparing for these games should not be considered as an optional requirement of your course. It is not even mandatory, it is voluntary. But it blossomed out of your love for [your] country.”
Tolentino also shared his plans for the future editions of the ROTC Games.
Among his visions include using the Iloilo experience as a blueprint for the upcoming Luzon and Mindanao legs of the games.
The games’ next stop will be Zamboanga City for the Mindanao leg, followed by the Luzon leg in Cavite.
The senator further expressed his aspiration to elevate the national tertiary sporting event to an international level by extending invitations to contingents from the national guards of Guam and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, represented by Malasakit at Bayanihan Foundation part-list’s Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez as guest speaker, expressed his support to the ROTC Games and assured measures that will support grassroots sports development in the country.
He will push for the institutionalization of the Philippine National Games to provide a platform to aspiring national athletes as well as for the upgrade of the athletes’ incentives and additional budget for the Philippines Sports Commission, among others.
“Lahat ng ito ay nakalinya sa ating pag-engganyo sa kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs,” said Go.
Moreover, the five-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist in arnis, Nathaniel Balajadia, emphasized the essence of sports to the young athletes as being centered on this year’s theme, “Tibay at Galing, Pagyamanin, Suportahan, Palarong ROTC Natin”.
“Its essence [ROTC Games] is to inspire the youth and also the non-athletes to engage in different sports,” said Balajadia during an interview.
Iloilo City and West Visayas State University (WVSU) are hosting this weeklong ROTC Games 2023 which is being spearheaded by the AFP and Commission on Higher Education.
Over the course of the six-day event that ends on Aug. 19 at the WVSU Cultural Center, participants will compete in a series of games such as athletics, arnis, basketball, boxing, e-sports, kickboxing, and volleyball. (With a report from John Felip Gerasol/WVSU Public Affairs Marketing and Communications Office and WVSU’s Forum Dimensions)/PN
