DABAWENYOS from all walks of life and from different ages, sizes and shapes sweated out unwanted fats as the Philippine Sports Commission and the city government of Davao re-launched the Laro't Sayasa Parke at the People's Park in Davao City Saturday.
Organized by the PSC under Chairman Ricardo "Richie" Garcia, the event attracted some 600 Dabawenyos including 545 Zumba participants who enjoyed a two-hour workout with Holiday Gym & Spa instructors Rudy Daño and Costa Rican Zoila Alvaro.
"This is the biggest class I ever held here in Davao and it's my favorite now. I have been here for seven years. Zumba outdoors is very nice we have more space than in the gym. Everybody can spend quality time being fit and it's for free," Alvaro said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao while Daño took the stage with his Twerk It Like Miley routine.
Thea Noreen Rivera, an officer of 777 TH NROTC unit of the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), in a separate interview said: "It's fun and exciting. Dagdag warm-up para maging fit and to lose fats (laughs)."
Alona Quintos, PSC's regional coordinator for Laro't Sayasa Parke program, said the program was launched in Davao City on Sept. 13.
"We are just re-launching it today. Starting next week, the program will be held Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. until December. This is not just Zumba, we have also tapped different local national sports associations (NSAs) to hold sports clinics for beginners," Quintos said in a separate interview.
Rugby football, futsal, volleyball, chess, taekwondo and badminton, among others, are among the events entered.
She added that Laro't Sayasa Parke is part of PSC's sports for all program with Filipino families as main beneficiaries.
Quintos said, "The main purpose is to gather the families every weekend to have fun and stay fit. This is free and is open to the public. Age does not really matter as you see a lot of seniors are here and having a great time."
Coach Merlo Albano, for her part, welcomes newbies who want to learn the sport of futsal, "Kahit sino pwede, bata man o kahit seniors na. Pangpapawis lang."
From Davao City, Quintos and the rest of the PSC staff proceeded to Digos City to coordinate with provincial and city officials the launching of the program that was inaugurated at Quirino Grandstand in 2012. Since then, it is also being implemented in Tagum City, Sarangani, Quezon City, Parañaque, San Juan City, Baguio City, Dumaguete City, Dagupan City, San Carlos City and Kawit.
Quintos said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was entered into by PSC and city mayors of different local government units.
A raffle of 30 PSC balls (volleyball, football and basketball) capped off the re-launch with lucky winners going home not empty-handed.
Staff of the Sports Development Division of the City-Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) assisted the PSC.
PSC executive director lawyer Guillermo B. Iroy, Jr. is project director of the Laro't Saya sa Parke program while Dr. Larry Domingo is project manager.