Palace hosts ‘sports day’ for abandoned kids

MANILA, Philippines — Citing sports as a vital part of the country’s social development, President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos hosted a “sports day” event for abused and abandoned children at Malacañang on Saturday that was attended by world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming.

Also seen at the gathering were Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, based on a video posted by Radio Television Malacañang on Facebook.

Marcos also shared photos of the event on his personal Twitter account.

“It also served as an opportunity for the youth who participated in the activity to have fun and relax,” Marcos tweeted in Filipino.

Apart from meeting the sports legends, children from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Lubao, Pampanga; Bahay Kalinga in Valenzuela City, and the Presidential Security Group community were treated to a magic show, bubble show and snacks from various food carts.

The RSCC provides temporary care for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. The Bahay Kalinga also serves as a halfway home for abused and neglected children in Valenzuela City.

Yao is in the country as part of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Central Board in the FIBA World Cup 2023, which will be co-hosted by the country in August.

The Chinese athlete played for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011.

Marcos defeated Pacquiao in the 2022 presidential elections.

On Friday, Marcos received members of the FIBA Central Board and delegates from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in Malacañang, where he assured them of continued government support particularly in the country’s hosting of 2023 FIBA World Cup.

In his remarks, the President said his administration has always considered sports as a very important part of the country’s social development.

The Chief Executive remembered his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., tossing the ball for the FIBA event in 1978, the first time it was hosted by the Philippines.

“I was there when my father first tossed the ball and I’m quite pleased to be able to – I didn’t realize that that was the first time that it happened here in the Philippines,” he said.

“And I’m happy that I will be there for the time that it will – the FIBA events will return – World Cup now, will return to the Philippines. So it would be an honor for me to reenact perhaps, reenact what my father did in 1978,” the 65-year-old Marcos said.

The President thanked SBP chairman emeritus and FIBA member Manuel Pangilinan, saying the country’s FIBA event would not be possible “without a great deal of hard work from all of you.”

Founded in 1932, FIBA is an association of national organizations that governs competition in basketball with a main office in Mies, Switzerland. It has regional offices in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

The Philippines, Japan and Indonesia will host the FBWC 2023, the first time multiple Asian nations were selected to host the event.

This is the Philippines’ second hosting of the FBWC since 1978. The SBP is FBWC 2023’s local organizing committee.