Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio believes the Philippines has what it takes to be a major tourist destination for international sporting events.
The Philippines has some of the most passionate sports fans in the world, but when it comes to being a regional hub for sports tourism, it’s still playing catch-up to its neighbors.
Realizing this, President Marcos recently signed Administrative Order No. 38, which calls for the creation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) that is mandated to “harmonize, coordinate, and oversee all government initiatives to develop, promote, and sustain sports tourism in the country.”
Specifically, the NST-IAC was created to oversee the “development, promotion, and implementation of sports tourism initiatives.”
This new agency will be headed by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio, who with his own background in tourism is eager to get to work.
“Ano pong sinasabi nun? Pull your resources together, pull the organization together so we can promote the Philippines as an ideal sports tourism destination,” Gregorio said Saturday at the kit launch of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team and Philippine Women’s National Futsal Team.
Sports tourism in Asia is a fast-growing industry. It’s also become very competitive with countries like Singapore and South Korea leading the way. Singapore, which has a land area about the size of Metro Manila and is not known as a regional sporting powerhouse, hosts its own Formula 1 race as well as other world sporting events.
By hosting major sporting events, the PSC is banking on the socio-economic benefits that come with it, and hoping to get a bigger slice of the sports tourism pie.
“Look at other countries like Vietnam, Thailand. Ang lokohan nga natin kulang nalang magpa-world scrabble event yan sa dami nang hino-host nilang tournament.”
Gregorio, though, is confident the Philippines will catch up, especially with world events like the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup to be held later this month at Philsports.
“Imagine four world events in four months. If I show you the list of 2026 and 2027, all you’ll say is ‘wow’. Eh kaya naman pala ng Pilipinas. Sports is good news. I’m so excited in the next few days, you will see Philsports. Ngayon lang kayo makakakita ng Philsports may chandelier pa.
“And as I’ve said, this will really benefit not just football, it will benefit all other sports na nadadalhin natin sa Pilipinas. Whether it’s basketball, football, volleyball, wushu. We’re hosting wushu in 2027. Eighty countries.”
“So that is really the positioning of the Philippine Sports Commission. Because we want to tell people, we want to tell our friends, na ang sports po is an investment. Sports is business. Sports is a global business. Hindi po gastos lang yan.
“If we invest in sports, mas maraming bata ang mag-e-enjoy sa facilities na tinatatayo natin. Because when we host, we have to improve, we have to renovate. Doon mo makikita wow, ang ganda. Puwede naman pala. And really it will make everybody smile.”
The 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, with 16 national teams participating, will be a good litmus test for the NST-IAC.
“The president of FIFA is coming,” Gregorio said. “The PFF (Philippine Football Federation) is very aggressive, PSC is really pushing and pushing to host more international events because it will give our young athletes an opportunity to watch here in Manila. How can they watch if it’s in Europe or in the Americas?”
Meanwhile, the Filipina5, as the women’s national futsal team is known, are not going to let the pressure of being hosts get to them.
“I don’t think we’re going to take that pressure on with us,” said midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki. “I think we’re going to just enjoy being with the Philippines here and just enjoy the experience and really just not take it for granted because it is special to be able to be a part of this for the first time ever.”
Sawicki also has a message for the Filipino fans.
“Just come out and enjoy the experience being here in the Philippines. It doesn’t come around often and it’s the first time ever. It’s a historical event and we just want your guys’ support and to be on our side. We’re going to do everything we can to represent you guys the best way we can.”
Banner images by Sid Ventura.