Air21-Powerade game highlights Customs gym inauguration

MANILA, Philippines –  A festive celebration of the Bureau of Customs’ 109th founding anniversary today will be highlighted by the inauguration of its newly renovated multi-purpose gym and an exhibition game by Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams Air21 and Powerade.

Customs commissioner Angelito Alvarez made the announcement Thursday after getting the nod of both the Express and the Tigers to play a friendly game before Customs employees, officials and guests. The match is slated at 8:30 a.m.

“I’m sure it will be a big treat to everyone in the bureau who has been working ceaselessly for the past several months. I guess this is the break that we all want – an exciting basketball game,” said Alvarez.

Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima will lead the bureau’s special guests in the day-long festivities, which will also feature a fun run and a thanksgiving mass.

The Customs gymnasium is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports edifice right in the heart of the bureau, boasting of wooden flooring, electronic scoreboards and professional-league standard basketball rings, among others. Volleyball and badminton games can also be played inside the arena and soon, Alvarez revealed, it will also bring in weightlifting and fitness equipment for the bureau’s health buffs.

The idea to renovate the Customs’ gymnasium came from Alvarez’s desire to infuse sports into the lives of bureau personnel and officials. The Customs chief was a former chairman of the PBA and team manager of the Air21 Express team.

“The gym is open to all Customs employees. We wanted a gymnasium where employees and officials of the bureau can get rid of all the pressure of a hard day’s work. More importantly, our aim is to instill sports into the lives of our employees. Kesa nga naman iba pa ang pinagkaka-abalahan nila, maging fitness and sports enthusiasts na lang sila,” said Alvarez.

Leading preparations for the day’s event were Customs Police department chief/supt. Jose Yuchongco, BOC sports director Johnny Tam, events director Peeya delos Reyes, assisted by Roland Magallanes.