MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon — Targeting the development of local talents into world-class athletes, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has identified an ideal training hub where national boxers can prepare for major international competitions.

PSC chairman Patrick 'Pato' Gregorio readily agreed with Senator Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri and the local government of Bukidnon to transform the newly built Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex into a training ground for world-class Filipino boxing talent.

“I’m very happy to be here. Thumbs up to the development of your province and city—such beautiful facilities. I’ve seen many training centers around the world, and this is truly world-class,” Gregorio enthused during his visit to the sprawling 13-hectare sports and events complex in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Senator Zubiri, the driving force behind the landmark development in Northern Mindanao, personally toured the sports commissioner around the facility, which features a 15,000-seat stadium, an eight-lane track-and-field oval, a football field and aquatics center with an Olympic-size swimming pool and diving pool.

Among the key amenities of the complex is a 3,000-seat gymnasium designed for basketball, badminton and martial arts along with four tennis courts, an open field for outdoor events, an auditorium for cultural performances and a museum.

Joining the tour were Bukidnon governor O’Neil Roque and Malaybalay City mayor Warren Pabillaran, who both expressed support for Gregorio’s proposal to designate the complex as one of several regional training centers across the country.

“We’ll support your regional training centers—that’s our commitment in the Senate. Mayor Warren and Governor O’Neil are here with us. We are one Bukidnon, so rest assured you’ll have our full support. We’re proud to host the boxing team,” Zubiri asserted.

The Mindanaoan legislator added that the track-and-field oval will soon be opened to the public, mirroring PSC’s initiative at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and PhilsSports Arena in Pasig City, where citizens can use the facilities free of charge.

“The PSC’s role goes beyond supporting national athletes. If we work harder and collaborate with LGUs, we can develop regional training centers,” Gregorio pointed out in reference to a directive from the Office of the President to establish national and regional hubs outside Metro Manila.

“We mapped out all potential training centers nationwide and presented them to the President. We aim to develop these within 12 to 18 months. Why are we doing this? In Zamboanga, for example, there are 300 young weightlifters—it’s their focus sport, and they’re winning in international competitions,” the PSC commissioner explained.

“We promised the President that we would develop regional training centers, provided we receive support from the government and LGUs, with each LGU adopting a specific sport they wish to promote,” he added.
Also present during the tour was national boxing coach Elmer Pamisa, who trains some 60 promising boxers in the boxing hotbed of Cagayan de Oro. The muay thai and sepak takraw national teams have likewise expressed interest to join the national boxers in their trading in Bukidnon.

“Boxing is perfect for a region like Bukidnon. Many boxers hail from Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, General Santos City, and even Davao,” Gregorio described the latest development.

“One of our coaches, Mario Fernandez—a two-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist—is from Malaybalay. Ironically, Mario is currently based in Baguio, training 13- to 15-year-old boxers from Bukidnon. Clearly, there’s something off with that setup,” he noted.

Meanwhile, coach Pamisa, a two-time Southeast Asian Games silver medalist and the discoverer of Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam, expressed optimism about the PSC’s initiative and Bukidnon’s commitment to housing national boxers in a world-class facility.

Bukidnon’s football field will have an artificial pitch soon after Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez has committed to apply for a grant from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world governing body in the sport, in a phone conversation with Zubiri and Gregorio.

“There are a lot of good football players that come from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The PFF might want to help, so we can have an artificial pitch. He’ll (Gutierrez) for a grant from Fifa. We’ll be able to train football players here. Thank you, Chairman for coming to Bukidnon,’’ Zubiri concluded.