TOP YOUTH FOOTBALLERS. Deputy Speaker of the House Pia Cayetano (center in pink) observes with other footballers from Pagatpat Elementary School and Bulua Strikers Football Club the two top youth booters of Cagayan de Oro, Vanvan Sambaan of Pagatpat Elementary School (right) and Jewel Actub of Bulua High School, juggling the balls, during the inspection of the Pagatpat Elementary School Futsal court. Pia through her Pinay in Action (PIA) sports development program has contributed to finish the rubberised painting of the Futsal court. Sambaan is a star striker of the Region X Palarong Pambansa team to the Davao Palaro this year while Actub is a member of the Cagayan de Oro Futsal team which will compete in the Batang Pinoy National finals also in Davao next month.
TAGUIG City Representative Pia Cayetano is an inspiration to Cagayan de Oro young footballers as she inspects the newly painted rubberised flooring of the Pagatpat Elementary School Futsal court in Barangay Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City Sunday morning (Jan. 27, 2019).
Cayetano, an avid triathlete and supporter of local football through her Pinay In Action (PIA) sports development program, met with young footballers from Cagayan de Oro’s footballing public schools, Pagatpat Elementary School, Bulua National High School and Bulua Elementary School during the inspection.
BRANDE NEW FLOOR. Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental Football Association (CMOFA) president Percy Guarin (right) with Deputy Speaker of the House Pia Cayetano play Futsal with school kids in the newly painted Pagatpat Elementary School Futsal court. The project was made possible through the Pinay In Action (PIA) sports development program of Pia Cayetano.
“Cagayan de Oro has produced a young lady footballer, Eunice Eduave, who now plays for the University of the Philippines,’’ she said in a message to the children, parents and teachers.
She added that the children should continue playing football so that like Eunice they can enjoy college scholarships and study in good schools in the future.
SCHOOL CHILDREN. Deputy Speaker of the House Pia Cayetano with young footballers.
Cayetano has also supported the construction of the University of the Philippines artificial football pitch in Diliman Quezon City, where her two daughters play for its Women’s Football Varsity team.
She was welcomed to the school by Pagatpat Elementary School principal Jenny Espina, Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental (CMOFA) president Percy Guarin, Carmen councillor and football coach Jerry Sabanal, Pagatpat Elementary School PTA president Jonathan Saranza, and Bulua Strikers coaches Jun and Heintjie Actub.
WELCOME. Deputy Speaker of the House Pia Cayetano gets a welcome from Bgry. Carmen councillor Jerry Sabanal (left), Pagatpat Elementary School principal Jenny Espina (right) and PTA president Jonathan Saranza.
“Thank you mam Pia for improving our Futsal court here in Pagatpat. I promise we will continue playing football,’’ said star striker of the Region X Elementary Boys football team Vanvan Sambaan.
Sambaan is a product of the Pagatpat football program which was started by Percy Guarin, Principal Jenny Espina, and coach Akim Branzuela.
Jun and Heintjie Actub’s daughter Jewel Actub also impressed the participants with her juggling skills. Jewel is a member of the Cagayan de Oro’s Girls Futsal team which will compete in the Batang Pinoy national championship in Davao next month. She plays for the Bulua Strikers but studies at the St. Mary’s Academy in Carmen.
BULUA STRIKERS. Pia Cayetano with footballers from Bulua Elementary School and Bulua National High School, who took time to thank her for helping the football programs of the Cagayan de Oro MIsamis Oriental Football Association (CMOFA). With them are coaches Jun and Heintjie Actub.
Work is still under going on the rubberised painting of the Pagatpat Futsal court. Pia Cayetano is the main sponsor of the project which was initiated by CMOFA under Guarin, and his KUGI project.
Espina also showed Cayetano her small but very productive organic vegetable garden. The garden is also part of Guarin’s KUGI project and has been producing vegetables for the schools’ feeding program.
AWARD WINNING. Deputy Speaker of the House Pia Cayetano visits Pagatpat Elementary School vegetable garden where she gets some ‘sibuyas dahoan’ from Principal Jenny Espina. The vegetables from the garden is being used by the school for its feeding program. It is a model for DepEd and has gotten some awards.
“This is very impressive. I hope all public schools in the country should follow this example,’’ she said. The garden also produces it own organic fertilisers through its own vermiculture corner.
Aside from Pia Cayetano, other contributors to the project are Ricky Yanson of Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA), Guy Edsel Omictin, and Jandon Vilas.
Cayetano’s PIA is a long time supporter of women’s football in Cagayan de Oro having organised and supported many tournaments here like the 1st and 2nd PIA 9-Aside Women’s Football Cup, Bulua Fiesta Futsal tournament, the PIA/SunStar CdO Football Festival, and the PIA/Cagayan de Oro Women’s Futsal Championships. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
