17th Aboitiz bootfest formally opens today

CEBU, Philippines - An elaborate opening ceremony will usher in the 17th Aboitiz Football Cup at 4 p.m. today at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Expected to grace the affair are Jaime Jose Aboitiz and Txabi Aboitiz Trustees of the Aboitiz Foundation. Aboitiz Foundation EVP and COO Sonny Carpio will also attend the kick-off bash  along with AVP for Operations Danny Cerence, Jowelle Ann Cruz (Manager) and Rechiel Cordova.

Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco will deliver the welcome address, while Cebu Football Association president Ricky Dakay will declare the tournament open.

Arantxa Marie Trebol of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, a member of the Philippine Under 14 and 16 Girls teams, will lead the Oath of Fair Play.

Games proper, however, will commence on January 31 yet. Aside from the sports center, games will also be played at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, Don Bosco Tehnological Center, and San Roque Parish football fields.

A record number of close to 200 teams will see action in 17 categories that include players 6, players 8, players 10, boys 12, girls 12, boys 14, girls 14, boys 17, girls 17, boys 19, boys 23, BPOs, inter-company, ladies open and men’s open.

Now on its 17th year in backing up the event, Aboitiz Foundation's main trust is education especially to the less fortunate ones.

For them, education is not only confined in the classroom setting, but also through sports like football. Through the Aboitiz Cup, a player builds good character and finds an effective vehicle for values formation. They  become more disciplined and above all, learn how to keep their cool.

“Aboitiz continues to support sports development in Cebu with the hope of instilling the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship among the youth,” said Carpio. "Since some of the players are athlete scholars, the cup also promotes the value of education through sports," he added. (FREEMAN)