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Friday, March 29, 2024

Wushu colleges association moves forward

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A year ago, wushu athletes came up with a new organization that was called the Philippine Wushu Colleges and Clubs Association.

The top officials of the organization were inducted into office by the City Mayor of Manila, Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso. The official oath-taking of the members of the PWCCA Board of Directors, who were inducted into office were Benson L. Ong, a businessman-philanthropist, as association president; Gladys Carrascoso Sia, vice president; Sean Elijah Wico Siy, Secretary General; Abigail Faniega, Treasurer; and Sherwin John Bromajon, Czarina Joy Hagos, Jomar Balangui, and Edmundo ‘Eddie’ Ang, Directors.

PWCCA officials with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno are show here. They are (from left) Eddie Ang, FESSAP’s Cecille Sarmiento, Benson Ong, (Mayor Moreno), Sherwin John Bromajon, Gladys Sia, Abigail Faniega, and Czarina Joy Hagos. (Sean Elijah Siy, PWCCA Secretary general not in photo).

The PWCCA Board of Directors were likewise recognized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, led by its president Angel Ngu and FESSAP Chairman of the Board Alvin Tai Lian on February 12, 2020, during the annual FESSAP Board of Trustees meeting held in Manila.

Looking back, Ong had tasked Sia, Faniega, and Siy to recruit outstanding high school athletes in preparation for the PWCCA’s participation in the 18th Gymnasiade 2020 in Jinjiang China, also known as the 18th World School Summer Games. Unfortunately, the games were postponed due to the pandemic. They have been moved to October this year.

The first Qualifying tournament staged by the PWCCA was the 1st Youth Open Wushu Tournament on February 15, 2020. It was held at the Philippine National Police facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City with the approval of Police Brigadier General MANUEL M. ABU, Director HSS in Camp Crame, and supported by PNP PSSG Abul Khair Bayabao, the skipper of the PNP basketball team. Serving as the PNP sports coordinator, Bayabao was instrumental for the free use of their gymnasium during the tournament.

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Among the international events that were postponed due to the pandemic included the qualifiers for the 20th ASEAN University Games in June 2020 in Thailand, and the Chengdu Universiade Games 2021 in China. 

But the PWCCA is learning new ways to do sports amidst the global crisis.  There are online activities organized by the organization to boost the morale of the athletes and strengthen the bond among them by way of doing workouts or any activity that can contribute to a healthy life and boost their immune system in the fight against COVID-19. 

For instance, the PWCCA conducted a Video Activity Challenge entitled “Pass the Shoe Challenge” where all the athletes around the Philippines took part. 

Many athletes submitted their own short wushu video clips, show a glimpse of their routine training and ending the program with the passing of the shoe. 

Another activity was the celebration of the International Day of the University Sports or the so called ‘IDUS’ whereby the PWCCA joined forces with athletes from other sports like Athletics, Archery, and Table Tennis in preparation for the New Normal. An online program came up with a short video clip on how to outfit their respective sports in celebration of the “IDUS”. It encouraged student-athletes to take part in the future global university games. 

 Most of the student-athletes have already graduated from high school since the pandemic struck. The PWCCA is now looking for new student-athletes that are interested in taking part in the 18th Gymnasiade in October 2021. They may also be invited to compete in the 31st Summer Universiade (World University Games) to be held in Chengdu, China in August 2021.

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