PSC barnstorming tour spurs sports tourism growth across Davao, Iloilo and Cebu

When Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio embarked on a whirlwind journey across Davao, Iloilo, and Cebu, it wasn’t just a barnstorming tour of facilities and forums, it was a voyage into the heart of Philippine sports tourism.

Each stop revealed how local passion, cultural heritage, and institutional collaboration are transforming cities into destinations where athletic dreams and tourism converge.

In Davao City, the soon-to-rise UP Mindanao Aquatics Center gleams as a symbol of promise.

With its final roofing and furnishings underway, the facility is poised to become a regional hub for swimming, drawing athletes and visitors alike in a collaborative effort among the PSC, UP and DPWH.

“With the strong support of our partner universities in Mindanao, we are discovering more young athletes who thrive in premium training environments,’’ said Gregorio, standing alongside Chancellor Lyre Murao and university officials.

``These institutions provide the ideal setting for new talent to flourish, ensuring that the next generation of champions emerges from the region’s rich pool of potential,” added Gregorio.

Beyond aquatics, Davao pulsed with energy as the National Open for Sambo unfolded at Sta. Ana National High School.

International experts from Malaysia and Indonesia led clinics and workshops, while world-ranked athletes Sydney Sy Tancontian and Chino Sy Tancontian inspired young sambo grapplers.

Supported by Gregorio, City Sports Development OIC Michael Aportadera, principal Welito Rosal, and Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. president Paolo Tancontian, the three-day event is proof that the martial art’s rise can ignite community pride and attract global attention.

``When it is your passion, when it is the sport that you love, it deserves all the support and assistance the PSC can provide,’’ said Gregorio, pledging continued backing for sambo’s grassroots programs and international ambitions.

Iloilo City, long celebrated as a football stronghold, emerged as a sports tourism powerhouse during the Visayas Sports Summit.

With Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and more than 175 sports and tourism professionals all over Visayas in attendance, discussions spanned coaching academies, sports science, and athlete welfare.

PSC Commissioners Matthew Gaston and Walter Torres, alongside sports leaders National Academy of Sports executive director Francis ``Kiko’’ Diaz, Karate Pilipinas president Richard Lim, Pilipinas Sepak Takraw president Karen Caballero, Philippine Sports Institute director Pearl Managuelod and Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines president Marcus Manalo, joined the dialogue.

Gregorio’s keynote underscored Iloilo’s potential as a regional training center and tourism hub. Visits to the Iloilo Sports Complex and the legendary football pitch of Barotac Nuevo highlighted the province’s deep sporting roots.

At the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in Passi City, Gregorio praised Mayor Stephen Palmares’ strategic sports tourism campaign and pointed to Passi’s bid to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2028.

Passi City is steadily transforming into a vibrant sports tourism hub, blending its rich cultural heritage with world-class athletic events that attract visitors and empower local communities.

Gregorio reaffirmed PSC’s partnership with the Department of Education in the Palaro and emphasized the mission to identify the next Filipino Olympian for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

DepEd Undersecretary Peter Corvera also graced the opening of the WVRAA meet where 7,000 student-athletes from the region will compete in various sports in a bid to qualify to the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur.

“Iloilo is a vibrant hub and proven ground where world-class athletes flourish,” said Gregorio. “It is a strategic starting point for fast-tracking regional training centers and sports development, from grassroots to greatness.”

Gregorio’s journey culminated in Cebu, where sports tourism meets luxury. At the Sports Tourism Forum at NuStar Resort, he unveiled PSC’s vision of sports not only as a driver of economic growth and citizen wellness, but as a crucial tool in reshaping the nation’s global image, infrastructure and even social dynamics in lasting ways.

``Athletes operate in their own ecosystem—they travel to compete for their country, for their families and for medals,’’ said Gregorio.

``They will come even during challenging times, and they bring companions who stay longer and spend more,’’ added Gregorio.

Over lunch with NuStar hotel executives, Gregorio pledged support for upcoming projects, including not only an international dragonboat tournament but also a wider slate of water sports events designed to showcase Cebu’s dynamic seascape.

From regattas to open-water swimming and sailing exhibitions, these initiatives promise to draw competitors and spectators from across Asia while positioning the city’s stunning coastal skyline as a centerpiece of sports tourism in preparation for the country’s 2028 hosting of the Asian Beach Games in the area.

At the Provincial Capitol, Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro welcomed Gregorio with the symbolic key to the city, a gesture underscoring Cebu’s commitment to becoming a national training hub.

As Cebu charts a course where athletic excellence sails hand in hand with tourism, Gregorio and Baricuatro discussed future national sports training centers across cities and municipalities in the province.

Across Davao, Iloilo, and Cebu, Gregorio’s barnstorming trip revealed a unified mission: expand grassroots sports, strengthen regional training centers, and harness sports tourism as a pillar of national development.

For travelers, these destinations now offer more than beaches, heritage sites, and cuisine. They are becoming arenas where the next Filipino Olympian may rise, where local festivals meet international tournaments, and where sports tourism is redefining the Philippine journey. (PSC)