‘Langoy Pilipinas’ Swimming Cup blasts off June 16 at MSC

The “Langoy Pilipinas’ Age-Group Swimming Championship will be held on June 16 at the Marikina Sports Complex in Marikina City.

Organized by GoldenEast Ads Promo and Events led by coach Darren Evangelista, about 450 athletes from 34 swimming clubs will participate in the competition that aims to strengthen the grassroots program in the country.

Young swimmers (female and male) aged 17-under will compete in the tournament divided into three categories – class A, B, and C.

There is a special category (Open) in the 50m freestyle for elite swimmers who will compete in a winner-take-all Battle Royale where a P5,000 prize is reserved for the gold medalist.

“Many want to participate, but we only limited it to 450 to speed up the competition. Aside from nurturing our young swimmers, our event also involves fundraising. The proceeds from this event will go to our Aetas brother in Pampanga and Zambales,’ said Evangelista, NCAA swimming coach champion in Perpetual Help, during his visit to the Tabloids Organization in Philippine sports, Inc. (TOPS) ‘Usapang Sports’ on Thursday at the PSC Conference Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RSMC) in Malate, Manila.

“We cannot do this without the support of our friends from Unilab, Ying Fa Pilipinas, and SOLID, Inc. (Sports Organization Learning Institute for Sports, Inc.),” said Evangelista.

Joining him in the program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Behrouz Persian Cuisine, and Pocari Sweat, is tournament director Jojo Manaloto, head coach of Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite which is competing in the NCAA-South.

“We are happy because apart from promoting the sport of swimming, we can also help raise the status of our Aeta brothers and sisters. Like other Indigenous people, they need care and support to overcome poverty,” said Manaloto who has served for almost two decades as a swimming coach and lifeguard abroad.

“We have been helping the Aetas for a long time. I organized swimming clinics and taught the Aetas. Now, from planting sweet potatoes, most of them are abroad and working as Lifeguards,’ said Manaloto.

Manaloto encouraged other event and sports organizers to include any activities that help the poor, including the Indigenous people, in their programs.

“It is challenging to remove them from their usual lifestyle, but many of our IPs are also looking for a chance to change themselves and their lives,” he said.

According to Evangelista, he has already had a conversation with PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston about how the agency can expand the IP program. The former basketball star was hooked on the agency’s IP Games.

Evangelista also mentioned that they provided significant equipment such as Jordan shoes and 45-inch, TV sets as prizes in the raffle draw for the participating coaches and swimmers.

photos: Darren Evangelista (left) and coach Jojo Manaloto.