Boljoon 'Sports Festival' September

CEBU, Philippines - It’s going to be a sporty September for the townsfolk of Boljoon as the history-rich bustling southern municipality of Cebu will be staging a sports festival next month.

Among the events to be featured are an inter-town basketball, inter-barangay volleyball, invitational tennis open, heritage mountain trail run, mountain bike challenge, amateur boxing, baruto race among Boljoanon fishermen and a football clinic and tournament for elementary students.

Boljoon, a historical landmark that boasts of its 400-year-old original stone church, aims to position Boljoon as the next sporting and adventure hub in the south of Cebu .

“We all know that this is a lofty endeavor of Boljoon but we see so much potential in our hometown that needed to be promoted aside from our church,” said Paul Brian Romero, the marketing chairman of the Boljoon Sports Festival Commission (BSFC).

Romero pointed out that they don’t envision Boljoon as the next Camsur but simply a place that can satisfy their guests, balikbayans and outdoor enthusiasts.

“We wanted to start from this event in promoting Boljoon. We are glad that our newly-elected lady mayor Teresita Derama Celis is very supportive of this undertaking,” added Romero.

Boljoon Vice Mayor Merlou Derama assured that despite the limited budget they have in the sports commission, they will do their best to address the financial concerns of the additional sporting events that are scheduled this year.

The multi-athletic conclave is also geared to the development of the youth through sports programs, believing that sports is vital in the character building of each person aside from helping the Boljoon Heritage Foundation (BHF) in the restoration of the iconic church.

“We are very thankful to the initiative of our fellow Boljoanon in helping the foundation to raise funds for the restoration of our church,” BHF president Lindzey Romero said.

Also, the two-month gathering is among the highlights of Boljoon’s annual fiesta celebration on November 12-13.

“We hope that our fellow Cebuanos will support us in this lofty venture of ours. We encourage the people to join the event at the same time discover the beauty of our place,” Romero said. (THE FREEMAN)