Philstar.com
August 21, 2025 | 10:10pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports activities Fee (PSC) has recognized a great coaching hub the place nationwide boxers can put together for main worldwide competitions.
On Thursday, PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio agreed with Sen. Miguel Zubiri and the native authorities of Bukidnon to rework the newly constructed Bukidnon Sports activities and Cultural Advanced right into a breeding floor for world-class Filipino boxing skills.
“I’m very joyful to be right here. Thumbs as much as the event of your province and metropolis — such stunning services. I’ve seen many coaching facilities around the globe, and that is actually world-class,” mentioned Gregorio throughout his go to to the sprawling 13-hectare complicated in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
Zubiri, the driving power behind this landmark growth in Northern Mindanao, personally toured Gregorio across the facility, which includes a 15,000-seat stadium, an eight-lane observe and discipline oval, a soccer discipline, and an aquatics heart with an Olympic-size swimming pool and diving pool.
Among the many key facilities is a 3,000-seat gymnasium designed for basketball, badminton and martial arts, together with 4 tennis courts, an open discipline for outside occasions, an auditorium for cultural performances, and a museum.
PSC
Becoming a member of the tour had been Bukidnon Gov. O’Neil Roque and Malaybalay Metropolis Mayor Warren Pabillaran, who each expressed help for Gregorio’s proposal to designate the complicated as one in every of a number of regional coaching facilities throughout the nation.
“We’ll help your regional coaching facilities — that’s our dedication within the Senate. Mayor Warren and Governor O’Neil are right here with us. We’re one Bukidnon, so relaxation assured you’ll have our full help. We’re proud to host the boxing workforce,” mentioned Zubiri.
He added that the observe and discipline oval will quickly be opened to the general public, mirroring PSC’s initiative on the Rizal Memorial Sports activities Advanced in Manila and PhilSports in Pasig Metropolis, the place residents can use the services freed from cost.
“The PSC’s function goes past supporting nationwide athletes. If we work more durable and collaborate with LGUs, we are able to develop regional coaching facilities,” mentioned Gregorio, referring to a directive from the Workplace of the President to ascertain nationwide and regional hubs exterior Metro Manila.
“We mapped out all potential coaching facilities nationwide and offered them to the President. We goal to develop these inside 12 to 18 months. Why are we doing this? In Zamboanga, for instance, there are 300 younger weightlifters — it is their focus sport, and so they’re profitable in worldwide competitions,” he defined.
“We promised the President that we might develop regional coaching facilities, supplied we obtain help from the federal government and LGUs, with every LGU adopting a selected sport they want to promote,” Gregorio added.
Additionally current was nationwide boxing coach Elmer Pamisa, who trains not less than 60 boxers within the boxing hotbed of Cagayan de Oro. The muay thai and sepak takraw nationwide groups have likewise expressed curiosity to affix the nationwide boxers in Bukidnon.
“Boxing is ideal for a area like Bukidnon. Many boxers hail from Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Normal Santos Metropolis, and even Davao,” mentioned Gregorio.
“One in every of our coaches, Mario Fernandez — a two-time SEA Video games gold medalist — is from Malaybalay. Satirically, Mario is at the moment based mostly in Baguio, coaching 13- to 15-year-old boxers from Bukidnon. Clearly, there’s one thing off with that setup,” he famous.
Pamisa, a two-time Southeast Asian Video games silver medalist and the discoverer of Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam, expressed optimism in regards to the PSC’s initiative and Bukidnon’s dedication to housing nationwide boxers in a world-class facility.
Bukidnon’s soccer discipline may have a synthetic pitch quickly after Philippine Soccer Federation president John Gutierrez has dedicated to use for a grant from the Worldwide Soccer Federation or Fifa, the world governing physique within the sport, in a cellphone dialog with Zubiri and Gregorio.
“There are a number of good soccer gamers that come from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The PFF would possibly need to assist, so we are able to have a synthetic pitch. He’ll (Gutierrez) for a grant from Fifa. We’ll have the ability to prepare soccer gamers right here. Thanks, Chairman for coming to Bukidnon,” mentioned Zubiri.