Batang Pinoy slated Jan. 21-28

The second Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy will be staged at the San Luis Recreational, Educational, Cultural and Sports (RECS) Village in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Jan. 21-28.

The event is spearheaded by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason and commissioner William Ramirez and hosted by Gov. Joey Lina. Ramirez, the first commissioner from Mindanao, is in charge of the project.

According to Tuason, the PYG-Batang Pinoy aims to to instill the competitiveness of athlete-students, particularly those 12-years-old and below.

"It will also showcase the stakeholders’ strong desire to have a sustainable program for children at an early stage, pursuing sports excellence, discipline and values inherent in the practice of sports and physical education," said Tuason.

DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) are also supporting the PSC-initiated sportsfest.

Some 3,000 athletes from different local government units all over the country are expected to compete in 18 individual and team events, namely, arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, football, little league baseball and softball, volleyball and basketball.

A total of 17 regions and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, National Capital Region, CARAGA and ARMM – are participating in the weeklong event.

Guest speakers are POC president Celso Dayrit and Tuason. The closing rites will feature the country’s sports heroes and outstanding athletes, led by Atlanta Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco, former Asian track stars Lydia De Vega and Elma Muros and swimmer Eric Buhain.