Philippine Martial Arts to be Featured in AFP Summer Sports Carnival

(PNA) — Philippine martial arts will be among the highlights in this year’s Summer Sports Carnival.

This was stressed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Marlowe Patria.

He added that the activities will be spearheaded by Office of Special Services (OSPS).

Patria said the 2015 Summer Sports Carnival will simultaneously start on May 26 at 1:00 p.m. in various sporting facilities of AFP in Metro Manila.

It will end on May 28 at 4 p.m.

In Camp Aguinaldo, the opening ceremony will be conducted at general headquarters grandstand/parade ground and AFP Wellness Center.

Simultaneously, the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force will hold its sports festival at Fort Bonifacio and Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City and Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

Arnis, the national sports of the Philippines, will be showcased by AFP athletes and coaches to increase awareness of the sport.

The hand-to-hand martial arts Pekite Tersia-Kali will also be showcased with Marines Combo during the conduct of the event.

Other sports which will be featured in the 2015 Summer Sports Carnival are basketball, football, volleyball and tae kwon do.

The Summer Sports Carnival will benefit children of active military and civilian personnel aged 8 to 19. It is expected to attract around 1,700 participating children.

The activity was conceptualized in 1989 as a manifestation of OSPS’s concern on the physical and moral development of dependents of military and civilian personnel of AFP.

Col. Abraham Claro Casis, AFP Special Service chief, said among the objectives of the sporting event is to allow the dependents to indulge into sports activities during off-school season.

It is also seen as a way to develop good moral values among the participants.

“It is also to showcase various sports to them. In this way, we might help them choose a sport that they would one day pursue as either a career or a hobby,” he added. (PNA) CTB/PFN