Football, triathlon clinic this weekend

CEBU, Philippines - Over 1,000 young aspiring athletes from Cebu will join a two-day training camp organized by Senator Pia S. Cayetano’s Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation (GSF) at the Cebu City Sports Center this weekend.

The ‘12th Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation’s Multisport Celebration’ will hold training clinics for football and triathlon as part of the grassroots sports development program of Senator Cayetano, who is also a triathlete. Proceeds from the event will fund various programs of the foundation which helps differently abled and less privileged children across the country.                                                 The GSF was founded by Cayetano in memory of her son, Gabriel, who died 13 years ago from complications of a rare chromosomal disorder called trisomy 13. Former Philippine Azkals team captain Chieffy Caligdong will conduct a two-day ‘Football Fiesta’ for different age categories, including: Children aged under seven years old (U7), under nine (U9) and under eleven (U11) on Saturday; and boys under thirteen (U13), under fifteen (U15), girls under fifteen (U15), boys under fifteen (U15) and girls under eighteen (U18) on Sunday.

The activity is sanctioned by the Cebu Football Association (CFA) and held in partnership with BRO National. National triathlon coach Melvin Fausto will teach the basics of the three disciplines of triathlon – swimming, biking and running – at the Kids Tri Camp on Saturday. The skills of the young participants will be tested in an aquathlon race to be staged on Sunday.

“We chose to focus on football and triathlon which are two of the fastest growing sports in the country. Both these sports continue to attract aspiring athletes, including here in Cebu, which has a vibrant football community and a growing pool of young triathletes with great potential,” said Angelica Pinlac-Rebosura, events coordinator of the GSF.

“It has always been the twin objectives of Senator  Cayetano and the GSF to promote sports and fitness for children at the grassroots, while also raising awareness on our advocacy to help differently abled and less privileged children,” she added. She noted that the GSF also held a football camp for children in Tagbilaran City, Bohol two years ago, following the destructive earthquake that hit Central Visayas in October 2013.

“It was our way of helping local kids to recover from the effects of the earthquake, by teaching football as part of their rehabilitation.” The Cebu event was originally scheduled in December last year, but had to be postponed to February due to typhoon ‘Ruby.’

Other GSF activities in partnership with Sweet Alert were able to push through, however, including seminars on maternal health and childcare, diabetes and health and nutrition for barangay health workers and college students at the Cebu Normal University and Cebu Technological University.

The foundation also conducted a free cleft lip operation. The 12th Gabriel’s Symphony is being staged in partnership with the office of Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, office of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, City Councilor David F. Tumulak and the Cebu Football Association. (PR) (FREEMAN)