Me in the news (for the nth time), now re wrestling's staying in the Olympics

From The Manila Times' WAP HAILS WRESTLING'S TRIUMPH (September 10, 2013):

“We believe we have a great shot at winning a medal—hopefully, gold—in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics,” said WAP Secretary General Karlo Sevilla. “The international wrestling community, led by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) and our president Nenad Lalovic, united in showing passion, determination and innovation in the campaign to keep our sport in the Olympics – right until the FILA panel’s presentation to convince the IOC GA membership of our case immediately before the vote, resulting to our majority win.”

The WAP also hailed the move to include wrestling in the 2014 Palarong Pambansa initially as demonstration (based on “Republic Act 10588) as one of the sports to be contested among high school students in the annual national youth games.”

“This is especially encouraging as our wrestling is all set to make its debut in the 2014 Palarong Pambansa. Definitely, the talents we’ll discover in the coming games of the Palarong Pambansa of DepEd and Batang Pinoy of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) will enjoy sufficient time, years, to mature as potential Olympic qualifiers and winners, come the third decade of this century,” added Sevilla.

Wrestling is one of the 10 priority sports of the PSC citing its impressive showing in its previous international tournaments including the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. The national wrestlers won two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

“Add to this wrestling’s status as among PSC’s 10 priority sports for the second straight year, receiving significantly more support than other sports, and we can’t help feeling confident in achieving our Olympic objectives.

“WAP looks forward to enjoying with DepEd what we have with the POC and PSC: an efficient and harmonious working relationship in promoting sports among the youth, and developing future Pinoy Olympic champions,” Sevilla concluded.

From  Philippine Daily Inquirer's WAP hails IOC’s ‘reinstatement’ of wrestling (September 11, 2013):

Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) secretary general Karlo Sevilla yesterday hailed the move of the International Olympic Committee to reinstate wrestling in the Summer Games, calling the move a positive development for the country.

All for the love of wrestling!

 To keep updated on Philippine wrestling development, check out regularly our Wrestling Association of the Philippines official Facebook page here. (And please "like" it, too! Thanks!)

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LANDMARK LEGISLATION FOR PHILIPPINE WRESTLING!!! (Featured by InterAksyon.com and Balita)

Original article posted on the Wrestling Association of the Philippines Facebook page on July 30, 2013.

Last May 27, 2013, President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III approved Republic Act 10588, which prescribes in its Article IV, Section 16 that, "The official sports events in the Palarong Pambansa shall include (in its*) Secondary (High School) Division (among other sports)...wrestling." 

InterAksyon.com, in its article Pinoy signs law institutionalizing Palarong Pambansa by Dexter San Pedro posted last May 31, states that "The official sports events in the Palarong Pambansa shall include athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwando, tennis, volleyball, arnis, archery, billiards, boxing, futsal, wrestling and wushu." (Bold letters mine.)

And just recently on August 3, Online Balita published Wrestling, isinali sa Palarong Pambansa (Wrestling, included in National Games). Its writer Angie Oredo quoted Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) President Albert Balde, "We’re very excited na isinali na nila ang wrestling sa Palarong Pambansa. Makikita na namin talaga ngayon ang pinakamagagaling na talento dahil buong bansa na ang kasali...We really plan to further our grassroots development program and teaching wrestling at the high school level will increase our talent pool."

RA 10588 is also known as the “Palarong Pambansa (National Games) Act of 2013″. It says that the Philippine government "will improve and promote the Palarong Pambansa as the primary avenue for providing in-school sports opportunities to improve the physical, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. All educational institutions are therefore directed to promote physical education and undertake regular sports activities as well as support the local meets and the Palarong Pambansa."

(Highlights of the 2013 Palarong Pambansa opening ceremonies.)

The website WikiPilipinas describes the Palarong Pambansa -- without a doubt the country's biggest multi-sports event for its youth -- as "an annual multi-level scholastic athletic competition conducted by the Philippine Department of Education and participated in by elementary and secondary students of both public and private schools across the country. It is the culmination of sports activities in the Philippines, which starts with the local school intramurals, followed by the district, division, and regional athletic meets. The Palaro is regarded as a laboratory of all acquired knowledge, skills, and attitude from the Physical Education curriculum, a prerequisite in Philippine education. It also serves as a means to promote sports education, health, and peace."

So, Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) members, roll up your sleeves higher as we'll be training more teachers, coaches, trainers and officials all over the country! -- in compliance to this new law and, as always, out of sheer love for our sport.

And big thanks to Sir Perlito Manalad of the Department of Education-National Capital Region Public Elementary and Secondary Schools & Special Education (DepEd-NCR PESS & SE, under OIC/Chief Dr. Jocelyn Marcial), for informing us about this law.

Thank you very much, InterAksyon and Online Balita! And KEEP WRESTLING IN THE OLYMPICS!

*All insertions in parentheses, for clarification and translation, are ours.

This blog is sponsored by Limitado

and S.P.R.A.W.L.-MMA

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Contact Number:             0910-440-8035      ;             0907-302-0384      ;            0927-703-6912