First-ever ROTC pageant, games held in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Hundreds of college students attended Saturday the first-ever Miss ROTC 2023 - Mindanao held in the southern Philippine port city of Mindanao.

ROTC refers to Reserve Officers' Training Corps which is tasked to train and develop college students in the rudiments of military service in order to produce capable Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reservists.   

The event, part of Sunday's opening ceremony of the Philippine ROTC Games (PRG) Mindanao Regional Qualifying Leg, was attended by Senator Francis Tolentino, the guest speaker. The pageant was represented by 21 ROTC cadettes from all over Mindanao.

Vice President Sara Duterte is expected to grace the weekend games at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex here.

Senator Francis Tolentino greets students during the Saturday opening of the Philippine ROTC Games Mindanao Regional Qualifying Leg in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines at the S. (Photo by Al Jacinto)

Tolentino's arrival in the afternoon was warmly welcomed by students at the Western Mindanao State University gymnasium. The ROTC cadets and cadettes and other college students cheered as Tolentino walked his way through the packed gymnasium. 

Senator Francis Tolentino answers questions from journalists in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines at the Saturday opening of the Philippine ROTC Games (PRG) Mindanao Regional Qualifying Leg. (Photo by Al Jacinto)

"The purpose of this (ROTC Games Mindanao) is to promote ROTC through sports. Ito lang ang collegiate level na sports bukod doon sa PRISAA, NCAA and UAAP," he told reporters before the opening of the pageant, referring to the Private Schools Athletic Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

"Itong mga atleta sa ROTC games puwede natin ilaban sa Southeast Asian Games. Our goal here is to promote ROTC, promote discipline and love of country through sports. This ROTC game is the first in the Philippines and first in history," Tolentino said, adding by next year, he will also push for the revival of the baseball and softball where Zamboanga athletes excel. 

Dr. Maria Carla Ochotorena, President of the Western Mindanao State University with Senator Francis Tolentino (extreme right) and other guests. (Photo by Al Jacinto)

Tolentino, who is the honorary chairman of PRG, said Duterte will be the guest of honor and speaker during the opening here of the weeklong tournament - from August 27 until September 2. He stressed that Duterte's presence in the PRG is a big boost in raising awareness for the tournament,  considering that she is the incumbent Education secretary and an active colonel in the military reserve force herself.

Photos from Senator Francis Tolentino's Office.

The Mindanao leg of the PRG comes a week after the successful hosting of the inaugural regional tournament in Iloilo City,  which featured cadet athletes from various provinces in the Visayas in different sports such as track and field, basketball, kickboxing, boxing, arnis, and volleyball.

Tolentino added that the lessons learned in the tournament in Iloilo City will serve as a guide and benchmark for the organizers in the upcoming tournaments.

The Mindanao regional games will be followed by the Luzon leg, which will be held in Tagaytay City from September 17 until 23. The cities of Manila and Pasig will host the National Capital Region leg  from October 8 to 14 as well as the National Championships from October 22 to 27.

The senator also lauded the successful hosting of the first regional leg of the PRG Games in the Visayas region. The Visayas leg of the  tournament featured cadet athletes from various ROTC units from different colleges and universities in Regions 6, 7, and 8 and showcased their skills in different sports such as track and field, basketball, kickboxing, boxing, arnis, and volleyball.

Tolentino, who is the brainchild of the tournament, hailed the leadership of the Commission on Higher Education, as well as the AFP and the Philippine Sports Commission, for making the sports tournament possible. He, together with Senator Robin Padilla, graced the PRG's closing rites in Iloilo. Padilla, an advocate of the mandatory implementation of the ROTC program, promised to raise public awareness of the importance of having a strong military reserve force.

The PRG spearheaded by Tolentino aims to promote the ROTC by specifically encouraging the development of grassroots sports programs; training young athletes for international competitions;  promoting physical education; and fostering self-discipline, teamwork and excellence. It involves the ROTC units of the main AFP service branches - the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. (Mindanao Examiner)