The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines is tracking a new course in winter-related international events such as Winter Universiade and winter orienteering and other games at the university level.
In doing so, the FESSAP Board of Trustees, led by its Chairman of the Board, Alvin Tai Lian, has approved the formation of the FESSAP Winter Ski and Skating Committee (FWSSC), to be headed by Michael Dodjie Fabian, who currently is working at the Trade Commissioner Service of the Canadian Global Affairs, as Chairman. He will be assisted by FESSAP Executive Vice President, Prof. Robert Milton Calo, as Co-Chairman.
The composition of the FWSSC will include three Executive Members designated by the FESSAP Executive Committee, Sharon Parreno-Fabian, Cecille Sarmiento and Raul Ballado of the Orienteering-Philippines.
Fabian was the Philippines’ Head of Delegation to the 29th Winter Universiade that was held in Russia in 2019, while his daughter’s Misha Fabian was the first Filipino athlete to see action in the Winter Universiade that same year.
The Committee will recommend to the FESSAP Board of Trustees the composition of the country’s team delegation (officials and athletes) that will participate in the 30th Winter Universiade to be held in Lucerne, Switzerland from December 11 to 21, 2021.
FESSAP Board of Trustees hald its first meeting for the year last February 12, 2021, via an online group meeting presided by Prof. Calo, who represented FESSAP president, Angel Ngu, and had officially recognized the creation of the FWSSC.
The Winter Universiade and Summer Universiade are biennial competitions organized by the International University Sports Federation.
All athletes and coaches who are interested in participating in those competitions must first sign up and register with the Committee before they will be allowed to take part in the selection process and competition.
Fabian, who formerly worked as Director at the Department of Trade & Industries on Export and Promotion, will be a big help to the FESSAP in the promotion of the winter games, said Calo, who is knowledgeable in the international business environment that can help search for Filipino students studying abroad. He is expected to tap Filipino university students that are into skiing and skating and studying in Europe or the United States for potential recruitment to the national team.
The provision to require the registration of athletes is to have the athlete-members officially identified for data information and guidance purposes.
The FESSAP has formed a partnership with the National Orienteering of the Philippines or short for Orienteering-Philippines for registered athlete-members to have more opportunities to take part in international winter competitions such as ski and skating Orienteering. Those games are organized by the International Orienteering Federation, which is an affiliated member of the International Olympic Committee.
Misha Fabian from the Ateneo de Manila University will be tapped once again to represent the Philippines in Figure Skating in her final stint as a student-athlete.
Aside from the Figure Skating competitions, other winter events are Speed Skating, Ski & Skating Orienteering, Cross-Country.