PH kicks off first ASEAN schools games in the country

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The Philippines, through the Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government of Marikina City, officially opened the 6th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) at the Marikina Sports Complex, November 30.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that ASG plays an important role in solidifying ASEAN ties. He said, “This display of solidarity among nations proves that neither borders nor cultural barriers are hindrances to the development and further camaraderie among ASEAN countries.”

“This ASG is not a mere sporting event but a parade of culture among participating countries. We dare learn from each other. We learn that differences allow us to enjoy and appreciate the various treasures in each of our cultures,” he adds.

Luistro also said that ASG seeks to promote ASEAN solidarity among the youth through school sports and provide opportunities for school athletes to engage in cultural exchange.

Marikina City Mayor Del De Guzman said, “The ASG promises an opportunity among ASEAN youth through sports, and for school athletes to interact and engage in cultural exchange within ASEAN. Hosting this particular sporting event is a first for Marikina City and the Philippines.”

The education chief lauded all the student athletes present at the opening ceremonies, saying, “We continue to applaud all of our athletes. We ask you to compete in the spirit of sportsmanship.”

“The future of ASEAN is all gathered here in Marikina City. I have no doubt that the best student athletes from the ASEAN countries are here tonight,” Luistro added.

Some 1,500 student athletes from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines will compete with each other in the 11 sports included in the ASG. The sporting event is until December 7.

The venues for each sporting event are Marikina Sports Center for Athletics, Volleyball, Tennis, and Swimming; Trevvi Subdivision for Badminton; Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College for Sepak Takraw; St. Scholastica’s Academy for Wushu; Marikina Convention Center for Table Tennis; Marist School for Basketball; Rizal Stadium for Gymnastics; and Valley Golf and Country Club for Golf.

Philippines hosts Chef de Mission meeting for 2014 ASEAN Schools Games

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The Department of Education (DepEd) and the City Government of Marikina met with the delegation heads of participating countries to ensure the readiness and safety of playing facilities for the 2014 ASEAN Schools Games (ASG), which will be held from November 29 to December 7, 2014 in Marikina City.

The “Chef de Mission” meeting is intended to finalize billeting arrangements and to allow the countries’ representatives to inspect the playing facilities.

“This meeting allows us to settle all issues months before the conduct of the games,” says DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, adding that it is important for all delegations to be on the same page.

Umali emphasized that ensuring the readiness and safety of the facilities is integral in safeguarding the welfare of the ASG delegates. He said that guaranteeing such environment for the athletes would provide a venue for creating champions. He added, “We want to create a community of champions—not just in the Asian Games or the Olympics, but champions in discipline, teamwork, and leadership.”

“We are excited to see how our young athletes are growing to be our ASEAN champions,” Jolly Gomez of the Philippine Sports Commission said.

This is the 6th ASEAN Schools Games and the first time for the Philippines to host although last year the country already hosted the golf tournament of the 2013 games, which were held in Vietnam.

Participating countries are Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The events in the ASG are athletics, swimming, badminton, golf, tennis, sepak takraw, gymnastics, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and wushu. The Philippine delegation will be composed of student-athletes from both public and private schools, as selected by a separate selection committee.

DepEd, Marikina City finalize plans for 6th ASEAN Schools Games

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The ASEAN School Games (ASG) is an annual sports competition among students of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

Apart from providing the youth with opportunities to showcase their sporting talents, the ASG promotes solidarity and fosters cultural exchange among the youth of participating countries. In November 2013, the Philippines hosted a Golf Tournament of the 5th ASEAN Schools Games hosted by Vietnam.

“This is a big challenge for our country and we thank the Department of Education (DepEd) for giving us this task,” said Marikina City Mayor Del R. De Guzman at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with DepEd on the hosting of the 6th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG). 

MOU signing between Deped and Marikina City for the Asean School Games

Education Secretary and honorary chairman of the 6th ASG Governing Board Br. Armin Luistro FSC explained, “This (ASG) is very important, not only for Marikina but most especially for the Philippines, because here we can showcase the country’s talents in the area of sports and show that we are ready for the world.”

Undersecretary for Regional Operations Rizalino Rivera said, “This is historic, because this is the first time the Philippines will be hosting the ASEAN Schools Games.” 

Rivera said that the country is privileged to accommodate all the ASG delegates. “The ASG is like the ASEAN Games but for younger people so you could just imagine the scale of participants in this sporting event,” he added. 

Participating countries are Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines, as this year’s host.

Luistro shared his hopes for the event, “My prayer is that the experiences of the athletes and their delegations will be a lasting memory for them -- part of the legacy which we hope to impart to our youth during this administration.”

The ASG will be held in the City of Marikina from November 29 to December 7, 2014.