Manila, Philippines, June 23, 2026: The Philippine Olympic Committee ignited grassroots sports on Olympic Day in Tagaytay on Tuesday, June 23.
Local observers from the Tagaytay City Government and the national sports media were unanimous in their praise for the massive turnout and flawless execution of the Olympic Day celebration, held at the state-of-the-art Tagaytay CT Velodrome.
Spearheaded by POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Secretary-General Atty. Wharton Chan, the action-packed, three-hour event provided free sports clinics and foundational training across six different Olympic disciplines: boxing, basketball, baseball, football, taekwondo and wrestling.
The true stars of the day were the youth. More than 500 eager students from Mendez Crossing Elementary School, Carlos S. Batino Sr. Memorial Elementary School and Maharlika Elementary School took to the floor, trading their screen time for active play and world-class mentorship.
Highlighting the event’s core mission, the POC Secretary General emphasized the critical need for holistic youth development in today's digital age.
"We want to encourage our kids to find balance in life and step away from their gadgets," Chan shared.
"It is time for them to embrace sports, which promotes a much healthier lifestyle. Through grassroots initiatives like this, we fervently hope to discover, nurture and develop the next generation of champions for the Philippines," he added.
