MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Swimming League, the national sports association for swimming of the Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines and the longest running swimming grassroots program in the country, has accredited 18 swimmers that met the qualifying standards for the 2014 Western Province Aquatics (WPA) Swimming Gala to be held at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Aquatics Center in Cape Town on Feb. 8-9.
PSL president Susan Papa said the swimmers had been selected based on their performances in the 51st PSL Series held at the Diliman Preparatory School (DPS) swimming pool in Quezon City and at the Bangkok Invitational Swimming meet.
They are Ma. Claire Adorna (girls’ 17 years and over), Ma. Paula Angela Villamil (girls 13 years), McTracy Alindogan (boys’ 13 years), Emanuel Joshua Lorbes (boys’ 16 years), Yuri Ilustre (boys’ 14 years), Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (girls’ 7 years), Kyla Soguilon (girls’ 9 years), Charize Esmero (girls’ 11 years), Imee Joyce Saavedra (girls’ 12 years), Seth Isaak Martin (boys’ 11 years), Jordan Lobos (boys’ 10 years), Jerard Jacinto (boys’ 12 years), JC Doragos (boys’ 15 years), Jifrey Azur (boys’ 17 years and over), Chloe Fabic (girls’ 10 years), Paula Cayanan (girls’ 14 years), Kyle Mendoza (girls’ 15 years) and Mary Angelic Saavedra (girls’ 16 years).
Buddy Cunanan, PSL chairman and Consul of Georgia in the Philippines, and Steven Chai-Mowitz, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Cape Town, are now working hand in hand with the Filipino community in Cape Town to welcome the Philippine delegation in South Africa.
The Filipino community, led by Mario Desamparado and Amy Friedrichsen, is preparing a banquet for the delegation at the UWC, said Cunanan.
“Our athletes are raring to compete against some of the best swimmers in South Africa and other parts of the region. We’re excited to meet the Filipino community in Cape Town,†Cunanan said.
“This early, we want to express our gratitude for their assurance of support and assistance when we get there,†said Papa.
“We’re aiming to win medals and we’re looking forward to see them [Filipino community] cheer for us and boost the confidence of our young swimmers,†added the PSL chief.
The PSL-WPA tieup was arranged by Consul Cunanan. It was formalized last month during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the PSL and WPA, represented by Sandra Reynolds, executive member for marketing and public relations. UWC Aquatics manager Glen Bentley and Honorary Consul Chaimowitz were also present during the MOU signing.