LARO NG LAHI. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Bong Coo discusses the staging of the Women in Sports Laro ng Lahi during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday (July 4, 2023). A total of 400 participants are seeing action in the July 8-9 tournament to be held in Lagawe, Ifugao province. (PNA photo by Jesus M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA – A total of 400 participants are seeing action in the Women in Sports Laro ng Lahi scheduled on July 8-9 in Lagawe, Ifugao.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Bong Coo said the all-women event to be held at the Lagawe Town Plaza and Village Park will feature combat sports boxing, wushu, wrestling, weightlifting and taekwondo.
“The project is to support the grassroots program of Ifugao and mandated by the Philippine Commission on Women which is always reminding not to forget indigenous sports,” Coo during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday.
“Since we're helping the Ifugao grassroots program and they have many IP (indigenous people) there, we talked to them if we can conduct IP sports there," she added.
Aside from the combat sports, there will also be ethnic cultural sports, namely labba race, guyyudan (tug of war), kadang-kadang (bamboo stilts), dopop di babuy, manbayu, hanggul, huktingan (royal rumble), bultung (traditional wrestling) and dopap di manuk.
Expected to attend the opening ceremony are Ifugao Governor Jerry Dalipog and Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano, and PSC Commissioners Matthew "Fritz" Gaston and Walter Francis Torres.
Cockfighting vital part of Philippine culture
In the same weekly session presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), former Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad said cockfighting should be elevated as a national sport and an integral part of Philippine culture.
“Based on history, it’s the oldest sport in our country, and played by our ancestors. Cockfighting is beyond gambling but a sport that adheres to honesty," Trinidad said.
He said cockfighting in the country has become a multi-billion industry.
“From the breeding process, feeds, vitamins, supplements all the way to the derbies, it truly is a multi-billion industry in the Philippines and a great contributor to the economy,” he said. “But my ultimate goal is to develop the appreciation of the sport and to present cockfighting not in a negative side. What we want to preserve here is the sport being part of who we are as Filipinos.” (PNA)
