SA isang major milestone para sa local sports development at sa Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program ng pamahalaan, pormal na inilunsad kahapon ng magkakaalyadong ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang 2023 Philippine ROTC Games sa Lapu-Lapu Grandstand sa loob ng Camp Aguinaldo sa Quezon City.
Pinangunahan nina Department of Defense Undersecretary at officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. ang paglagda sa Memorandum of Agreement para sa proyekto na kinasasangkutan din ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Sports Commission at Philippine Olympic Committee.
Bukod kay Faustino, na itinalagang chairman ng newly-formed Philippine ROTC Games Executive Organizing Committee, ang iba pang signatories ay sina AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, CHED Chairman Dr. Prospero de Vera III at PSC Chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala at ang kinatawan ni Atty. Wharton Chan, ang POC chief legal counsel, na kumakatawan sa pribadong sektor.
Lahat sila ay magiging miyembro ng organizing committee sa sportsfest na naglalayong isulong ang national pride, self-discipline, teamwork, at excellence habang nagsisilbi bilang bagong pagkukunan ng outstanding athletes para sa international competitions.
Sumaksi sa MOA signing at formal launch ng Philippine ROTC Games sina Sen. Francis Tolentino, isang brigadier general sa Army reserve.
“The utilization of sports as a platform to propagate the ROTC program is both remarkable and brilliant for developing a healthy and alert citizenry,” sabi ni Eala.
“It (the Philippine ROTC Games) not only provides a viable format in training our young people towards their basic patriotic duty to the country but is also an avenue for a new, diverse and massed platform for our country’s grassroots development program,” pagbibigay-diin niya. “This multi-discipline event will enable us to identify new, dedicated and finely skilled student-athletes who will serve as sports heroes of the country in the future.”
“Personally, I have always believed that the ROTC program of the country has been a potent tool for attaining the country’s overall integrity, honor and health,” ani Tolentino.
“The launching of the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games signals the beginning of our quest for young Filipino athletes who will not only excel in sports but, more importantly, showcase to the world that the Filipino has a heart of a champion,” paliwanag ng senador. “Our goal is to promote camaderie, teamwork and sportsmanship, which are important in building bodily strength and character.
“This competition will not be a glorified intramural, but we aim to develop a pool of disciplined elite athletes.”
Ayon kay Brig. Gen. Doroteo Jose Jalandoni, na kabilang sa mga bumuo sa 2023 Philippine ROTC Games, ang kumpetisyon ay magkakaroon ng tatlong bahagi: ang sports clinics kung saan matututunan ng mga kadete ang sports basics, regional meets at ang National Games.
Aniya, ang sports sa initial sportsfest ay ang athletics, obstacle sports, swimming, boxing, arnis, weightlifting, kickboxing, e-sports, basketball, volleyball, target shooting at ang demonstration ng gymnastics.
CLYDE MARIANO