In line with the city’s strong advocacy to strengthen and uplift its sports program, Dagupan, under the initiative of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and the Dagupan City Sports Commission, successfully concluded its 2025 Summer Sports Camp through an awarding ceremony last Saturday, May 17.
Held at several places in the city, Sports Development Officer IV Finnela Sim, together with Dagupan City Sports Commissioner Nestor Duque, led the awarding of certificates of participation and recognition to all players who finished and graduated, while stressing the importance of such free clinics in empowering them to become better athletes.
“Ito ay may kasamang pag-asa, may pangarap at of course ito rin ay magbibigay sa inyo ng kinabukasan dahil ang dami na nating naging sports scholars at naging asensado sa buhay dahil lang sa tulong ng sports, na-libre ang kolehiyo nila.” Sim emphasized.
The free summer sports clinic, which ran from May 5-16, hosted almost 300 young athletes ranging from ages 7-16 years old participating in different sports events such as Arnis, Athletics, Boxing, Chess, Football, Futsal, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo and Wrestling.
Several parents and players expressed gratitude to the city’s initiative of providing free sports training to help them develop their respective talents and skills in sports.
Hana Zelena Agacita, a boxer and swimmer, expressed her heartfelt appreciation as she shared that she greatly benefited from the sports camp.
“Matagal ko na pong pangarap na mag-boxing tapos ito pong free camp na ginawa po ni Mayor ay malaking tulong po kasi po nasubukan ko na po yung pangarap ko at malaking tulong po siya sa swimming din po kasi po siyempre mas na-eengage po ako sa physical activities” Agacita expressed.
Melanie Porbile, parent of a young athlete in Taekwondo, also shared some words of gratitude while noting the contribution of the local chief executive.
“Dahil dito po sa summer camp po na binigay niyo po sa mga bata na libre po, napakalaking tulong po sa kanila sa pag-iwas po sa mga gadget po. At ngayong nanalo po kayo, maraming salamat din po dahil tuloy tuloy pa rin po yung binibigay niyo pong suporta sa ating mga atleta.” Porbile said.
The summer athletic program started in 2015 under Mayor Belen Fernandez’s Building the Future: Developing Our Excellence in Sports (BTF: DOES IT) Program, in partnership with Bert Lozada Swim School and partner expert coaches, focusing on enhancing the youth’s ability to hone their sports mastery.
