Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Guv honors winners in 3rd POF qualifying games
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Basking in their recent winnings in the Central-Northern Luzon Qualifying Games of the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) Games, the 85-strong contingent of Kapampangans were again honored in simple rites at the Capitol grounds here.
Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio headed the honor program for the contingent that included coaches and officials at the Executive House here last Monday.
The group was the official delegation of the province to the POF games held at Subic in Olongapo City from April 2 to 6.
Panlilio hailed the achievement of young athletes which he said has been a good record despite the lack of funding and time to gather athletes for training for the said event. He said the effort of Gil Cortez, provincial sports coordinator and head of the delegation, has been instrumental in coming up with the best line-up for the province through networking with the best coaches in the different sporting events and tapping raw talents.
According to Cortez, the meager preparation was bolstered by the commitment of the young delegation mostly sourced from schools and universities. “We are happy of what we have achieved and this will become our benchmark in future competitions and we are also thankful that the province has pledged more support in the coming competitions,” Cortez said.
The said winners were able to bring in gold medals in the sporting events like basketball, power lifting, chess, aquatics, badminton and taekwondo with majority of the gold medals registered in the archery competition which delivered to the team 17 gold medals.
Cortez said despite the lack of an archery tradition in the country and the province, the team managed to bring in a good line up from Pampanga Agricultural College in Magalang town. The winners received certificates of appreciation from the Provincial Government.
“People doubt if we would yield results but fate has it that we did,” Cortez said.
The governor, on the other hand, said the Provincial Government would pour in more financial support for the sporting programs of the province.
The winners are set to compete in the National Olympic Festival in Misamis Oriental on October 12 to 16. (IOF)
