Tulabut: Sports tourism

Friday, July 15, 2011

LET'S try sports for Clark!

Atty. Ping Remollo, president and CEO of Clark Development Corporation, is pushing for sports as one of key tourism attractions inside the Freeport.

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This is one initiative that deserves support from everyone. As Atty. Ping puts it, "Sports is a great equalizer". To amplify, it means making the Filipinos even more proud of themselves in what they achieve not only in the sporting world but also for humanity.

I need not tell you how today's current pop idols - the Azkals - have been rallying the country and its citizenry behind this football team, inspiring youths to be more active in sports.

I need not tell you how we Filipinos can hold our heads up high with Manny Pacquiao's unprecedented eight-time boxing championship. With the feats of Manny and the Azkals, we Filipinos - citizens from a third world country -- could have equal footing with athletes from great nations like the United States.

Indeed, sports is a great equalizer. And we have to try more of that in Clark.

This is one compelling reason why Atty. Ping deserves all the support he could muster from all - local chief executives, government executives, the private sector, etc.

The new CDC executive has many plans to achieve this vision for Clark. He has started to bring in sports activities like baseball, an international paintball tournament, frisbee, soccer, rugby and cricket.

He is putting money where his mouth is. At this early, he is already into negotiations with Philippine Air Force officials for turnover or joint management of sporting facilities to CDC. This includes the former Challenger Field which was used as a venue for various sports by the American troops. He is also eyeing the improvement of Mekeni Golf Course, one of Clark's greens and fairways. Some stadiums are also being planned to be put up.

Also, another unprecedented move is the partnership with the Alliance of Travel and Tour Operators in Pampanga (ATTAP) headed by Gilda Padua and the Hotels and Restaurants Association (HARP). Only last week, these two groups made a joint courtesy call to Remollo, one event which I don't recall that ever took place in previous CDC administrations.

Talk about unprecedented moves, CDC is also vigorously supporting the conduct of Sports Tourism Summit in Clark on July 19.

Organized by tourism guru and travel industry expert Charles Lim of Selrahco Management and Consultancy, the event will bring to the Clark forum renowned speakers in the sports industry.

What is so interesting in this gathering is that it will not only benefit Clark but also other towns and cities that are trying to establish the appropriate sporting events in their respective localities. It is part of Remollo's plan to create the synergy between Clark and contiguous communities in creating attractions and sporting spectaculars on a year-round basis.

As Remollo also puts it: "It is giving life to Clark". I agree with the debonair top honcho of CDC there. While Clark is indeed an investment destination that now hosts blue-chip ticket items such as Samsung, Texas Instruments, Yokohama, among other industry giants, it somehow lack some regular attractions.

Slowly, the former Dumaguete City mayor is bringing that "life" to Clark with weekend spectacles like the previous baseball games and paintball competitions. We could expect more sporting events in the days to come.

Sports tourism will also definitely complement plans by Clark executives like CIAC President Chichos Luciano to push for the development of the Freeport into the country's premier gateway. Having many sports attractions (aside from the renowned Hot Air Balloon Festival every February) will bring in tourists and visitors to Clark via the DMIA.

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Going back to the Sports Tourism Summit, which will be held at Holiday In Clark Field, the forum will have Princess Galura, Cesar Cruz, Matthew Cullen, and Philippine Olympic Committee Chair Monico Puentevella as main speakers.

"We are expecting that the forum will enlighten tourism stakeholders on how to transform natural and man-made sports facilities into top money-earning investments and how to establish their city or province as an ultimate sports destination. The resource persons will also guide them on how to and successfully bid to host sports events," Lim said.

During the event, Lim said IMG Philippines managing director Princess Galura will discuss the basics of staging, planning, and managing sports events.

He added that IMG is the world's biggest sports marketing company that owns and manages over 600 global sports events and represents more than 1,000 celebrities and athletes, including golf legend Tiger Woods.

Also, Philippine Tours Association President Cesar Cruz will tackle the opportunities and potential of sports tourism for the travel industry. Cruz, who is also the general manager of TRIPS travel, is a staunch advocate of developing inbound activities to promote Philippine tourism.

Matthew Cullen, general manager Philippine Rugby Union and head coach of the Philippine Rugby Team will share the experiences of the country's Rugby team and their road to success, including the secret as to how the Philippine Rugby Union became Asia's Level One in 2010.

Philippine Olympic Committee Chair Monico Puentevella will tackle the role of national sports associations in supporting sports tourism. A sports enthusiast, who is also the current president of the Philippine Weightlifting Association.

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YU FU IN YAKINIKU AND RESTAURANT. There's a great Japanese restaurant along First Street in Balibago. Yu Fu In serves authentic Japanese cuisine like tempura, tepanyaki, sushi, sashimi and more.

I'm impressed the first time I had lunch there as the resto teemed with Japanese executives of Clark locator firms. First time I saw a local joint where expats congregate for lunch in a busy day's work.

Aside from the diner, function rooms and yakiniku area, the place has excellent service and food and wonderful staff headed by the beauteous Mitch Otsuru.