Mike Cup Underway

The first First Gentleman’s Cup, an 18-hole fund-raising tournament for the country’s out-of-school youth, will be played today with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Jose Miguel Arroyo hitting the ceremonial balls.

Teams totaling 100 are entered in the event at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s West Course. The honoree’s golfing buddies are staging it for the benefit of Project Oyster.

Organizing committee overall chairman Tony Cabangon Chua said yesterday that they would use the shotgun start to accommodate all the participants.

"With three-man teams, we have 300 players altogether," he said. "We would divide them into two with the first group starting play at 7 a.m. and the other at 12:30 p.m."

"We are deeply honored that Her Excellency, the President, and the First Gentleman have agreed to grace the tournament and hit ceremonial balls," Cabangon Chua also said.

Project Oyster, the beneficiary of the tournament, is an emergency employment program headed by President Arroyo in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

The acronym Oyster means "Out-of-School Youth Serving towards Economic Recovery."

"When my friends requested me to be a part of the tournament to raise funds for the less fortunate sector of society, I readily agreed with them," Arroyo said.

"Another reason I gave my consent to be associated with the tournament is the fact that I share their concern for the youth who are out of school."

Among the prizes up for grabs are scholarships for out-of-school youth, two business class tickets from two airlines and brand new car for a hole-in-one.