THE Wushu Federation of the Philippines is hitting two birds with one stone.

The country is set to host two major wushu events in back-to-back fashion – the World Wushu Championships and the Asian Wushu Championships in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Officials of the association led by its president Freddie Jalasco and secretary general Julian Camacho made the announcement on Tuesday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

World Wushu Championships silver medal winner Carlos Baylon Jr. was with Jalasco and Camacho in the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

Camacho bared that since the country is hosting the world meet in 2027, the Wushu Federation of Asia suggested for the Philippines to stage the Asian counterpart of the tournament as well a year after.

“Kinausap ako ng Wushe Federation of Asia, sabi nila since mag-host naman kayo ng 2027 World Championships, baka puwede na kayo mag host next year ng Asian Championships. So back-to-back ito. Sabi ko, OK,” Camacho said in the public sports program.

“Since nandiyan na rin naman lahat ng equipment (taolu carpet, sanda ring, scoring machine), we can make use of that with only a few months apart (of the two hosting).”

But focus will be on the World Championship first, according to Jalasco, as the Philippines is eyeing a P500 million budget to mount the event featuring 80 countries and more than 2,000 participants competing in both the taolu and sanda events.

The federation is in talks with the SMX Mall of Asia as venue of the event.

“Magsisimula na kami ng aming mobilization by early next year. So we have to prepare everything to ensure the success of our hosting, kasi napakalaking event nito,” said Jalasco.

The Philippines was actually scheduled to host the event in 2029 yet as Macau is the one assigned for the 2027 staging.

But Camacho opted to talk to Macau and switch the hosting assignments instead.

“Sabi ko kasi I’m 82 now baka hindi na ako umabot ng 2029,” said a smiling Camacho. “We’re friends (Macau) naman. So pumayag, nagpalit tayo ng hosting.”

As for someone who’s expected to perform right before his countrymen, Baylon said he’s ready to take on the challenge and deliver the way he did in the recent World Championships and the World Games earlier, where he won a bronze medal.

“Pagsisikapan po natin sa training para makakuha tayo ng gold,” said Baylon, who competes in the men’s sanda 56 kg. event. “Medyo may pressure sa aming mga atleta dahil tayo ang host, pero ipapakita natin sa ibang countries na malakas tayo.”