The National Academy of Sports has received a major boost that will further enhance its capabilities to develop Filipino athletes at an early age.
Deep within New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac is the National Academy of Sports (NAS), a sports school that seeks to develop Filipino student-athletes by providing them with world-class training facilities, on top of a secondary education program integrated with a “special curriculum” on sports.
Created through Republic Act 11470, the NAS is currently in Phase 1 of its development and caters to eight “focus sports” including aquatics (swimming), athletics (running events), badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, and weightlifting.
And just recently, the program received a huge boost in its goal to develop the next generation of Filipino athletes.
Major partnership
On October 7, 2024, the National Academy of Sports gained its first private sponsor in fast food giant Jollibee, who pledged to donate PHP 5 million to help the organization purchase sports equipment and enhance the campus’ existing facilities.
Through this donation, the NAS will purchase high-grade ping-pong tables and interlocking mats and expand their badminton courts, according to executive director Josephine Joy Reyes.
“This will really transform the competitive training experience of our students, so I’m really very, very grateful that they chose NAS since our students are the future Olympians,” Reyes said during the turnover ceremony, which was attended by DepEd secretary Sonny Angara, double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and officials from Jollibee and the Capas local government unit.
This development follows Team Philippines’ historic campaign in the Paris Olympics, which was led by Yulo’s back-to-back gold medals, and bronze medals from boxers Nesthy Petecio and debutant Aira Villegas.
To keep the momentum of Philippine sports going, Jollibee is ready to boost the development of Filipino sports talents, and they are starting with this big partnership with NAS.
“We were thinking, what better way to honor the [Paris] Olympians than to actually empower and build the next generation of world-class Filipino athletes,” said Jollibee vice president and head of marketing Dorothy Dee-Ching.
“And it so happens that it is also the vision of the National Academy of Sports, so we’re really happy to partner with NAS to really turn that vision into reality and inspire the next generation of world-class Filipino athletes like Carlos Yulo.”
Reyes also hinted that the partnership will go beyond their initial donation. “Itong partnership natin, it won’t stop here, so sana magpatuloy ito.”
From an Olympian’s perspective
For his part, Yulo welcomed the establishment of the NAS given its benefits to the next generation of Filipino athletes. After all, he should be familiar with the lack of resources that plague the development of budding athletes in the country.
“Super happy na may NAS po, na itinayo ‘yung ganito para sa mga nangangarap din — kagaya ko — na nangangarap din na makasali sa international level. And of course, nagho-hope po and praying na maraming estyudante na mangagaling dito and mga atleta na makaka-compete po and makita nila ‘yung international level,” said Yulo, who’s gymnastics career began in Leveriza, Manila.
As early as now, Yulo is looking to hold training camps in the NAS, along with having “cross-training” sessions for his own growth as an athlete.
“Gusto ko rin, of course, mag-enjoy habang ginagawa ‘yung sports and nakakakuha ako ng knowledge and nakaka-share ako ng mga na-experience ko sa Japan. Mga na-experience ko sa pagkapanalo, and syempre sa mga pinaghirapan ko na bagay, gusto ko ma-ishare sakanila,”
A total of 229 student-athletes are currently enrolled in NAS under a scholarship that includes free uniforms, meals, dormitories, and a monthly allowance aside from their access to the training facilities.
Phase 2 of NAS’ development is also underway, which will include a sports science building, staff housing, and a gymnastics center that is eyed for completion by August next year.
Banner image courtesy of Jollibee.