AROUND 3,000 cadet-athletes from 118 higher education institutions across Luzon have signed up to participate for the Luzon leg of the Philippine ROTC or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Games.

This was announced by Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, who led the opening ceremonies of the games at the Cavite State University-Indang campus on Sunday (28 July 2024).

Tolentino was joined in the ceremonies by Senator Robin Padilla, CAVSU President Dr. Hernando Robles, and representatives from the Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Sports Commission, Department of National Defense, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“At the ROTC Games, we celebrate and showcase the abilities, discipline, and leadership of the Filipino youth through sports and military skills competition,” Tolentino said.

“I encourage you to not just showcase your skills, your talents, your sportsmanship, but likewise to show friendship, to learn from each other, to care for one another. Dapat pong dumami ang mga kaibigan n’yo. Yung mga taga Bicol, dapat maging kaibigan ang mga taga Kalinga, mga taga Metro Manila, taga Pampanga,” he stressed.

“The ROTC Games is not just meant to showcase physical prowess. ROTC Games is meant to unite the Filipino youth. Ako po, si Senator Francis Tolentino, karangalan ko po na makaharap kayo ngayong araw na ito,” said the senator, a principal author of Senate Bill No. 2034, the Mandatory ROTC bill.

Slated from July 28 to August 3, the games feature 11 events, including: arnis, athletics, basketball, boxing, chess, e-sports, kickboxing, speak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, target shooting, volleyball, and the raiders competition.