Finding gems in the rough Cebu Province kicks off multi-sport grassroots program at Boystown

CEBU, Philippines - The province of Cebu through its sports commission officially kicked off yesterday its comprehensive multi-sport grassroots development program aimed at minting future athletic stars out of the 1,600-plus underprivileged students of the Sisters of Mary School-Boystown in Tungkop, Minglanilla.

Set to run for six months, the noble endeavor is an offshoot of the sports community outreach of noted basketball coach and league organizer Van Halen Parmis at the charitable institution two months ago.

"During our first visit at Boystown some weeks back, I was pleasantly surprised to know that they have a regular sports training for their students on a daily basis and not just during PE classes. And we are here to strengthen it," said Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) executive director Atty. Ramil Abing.

"We see these kids have potentials that is why we allocated a budget for this. And we are most thankful to our good governor Hilario Davide III for his all-out support in this worthwhile undertaking. We also would like to comment coach Van (Parmis) for starting this all," Abing added.

In the course of the program, Abing said they will be providing the Boystown with the necessary equipment and a pool of competent and dedicated coaches to handle the training in seven events – basketball, badminton, swimming, football, athletics/track and field, volleyball and table tennis.

"We hope that given the right training and the kind of discipline they have, we can make these students/athletes excel in their respective fields. If we can create an athlete or a team capable of representing Cebu Province in regional and national competitions someday, that would already be a reward for us," said Abing.

For his part, Parmis, the man who started it all, relished with proud joy that the small act of kindness he has shown to the needy ones blossomed into a major sports program in a short span of time that is beyond his expectations.

"The support I've got is indeed overwhelming. I just wanted to to share my talents and blessings especially to the less fortunate but seeing it turn into a major sports program, I am at a loss for words. I can't thank enough the Cebu provincial sports commission for believing in my cause. To the nuns of the Sisters of Mary, I am deeply grateful for their wholehearted support from the very beginning. Without them, this would not have been possible," said Parmis. (FREEMAN)