Thirty-two student-athletes from the University of Tennessee (UT) in the United States participated in sports games with members of Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. with the former making a visit to Cebu Doctors’ University located in North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City, Cebu on July 11, 2023.
The student-athletes are part of the university’s academic-based program dubbed VOLeaders Academy, which aims to “cultivate student-athlete leaders through sports to create positive social change.”
The student-athletes visited Cebu Doctors’ University in Mandaue City, and learned about wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball from the members of Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. (Pads)—a local, independent non-government organization, “working to enable the PWD (persons with disabilities) community to grow and develop as independent, integrated, fully human and empowered citizens in society,” according to its official profile.
“Our experience here is very unique because we are able to visit three places—Manila, Coron, and now here in Cebu. It’s so interesting to meet people of different ages, and we’ve also been able to teach what we know,” said Griffin Hadley, a member of the UT men’s swimming team.
“But I tell you, they taught us a lot about native Filipino games,” Hadley said.
The UT student-athletes play several sports which include soccer, volleyball, golf, softball, tennis, basketball, track and field, baseball, football, rowing, swimming and diving.
Eye-opening activities
Marshall Steward, UT senior associate athletics director and associate provost of the university, shared that the activities were eye-openers for them, adding that the experience made them connect with each other through sports.
During their visit in the country, the delegation toured the Philippine Sports Commission in Manila, learned about arnis—the national martial art of the Philippines, and toured different universities. In Cebu City, they had a courtesy visit to the office of the Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia.
The 10-day trip is part of the program’s International Service Immersion Experience.
John Paul Maunes, chief executive officer and founder of Pads, marked the significance of this event, which represented “a culmination of efforts,” and is a “testament to the transformative potential housed by every athlete.”
Maunes added in his Facebook post:
“We are so thrilled to receive the adaptive sports equipment donated by the University of Tennessee VOLeaders Academy for goalball, blind soccer, blind basketball, running and OCR to promote the development of blind and deaf sports here in Cebu.” (HIC)