Zambo girl
leads ASAP winners (The Philippine Star) Updated February 08, 2010 12:00
AM
ASAP swimmers, who decided
not to participate in the Sabah meet after their age eligibility and
non-membership were questioned by Philippine Amateur Swimming
Association president Mark Joseph, watch from from the sidelines in the
Sabah Invitational Age Group Championship. The Filipino swimmers’
parents are set to file charges against Joseph.
MANILA, Philippines - Mary Angelic Saavedra showed big
promise as a future national swimmer as she completed her international
debut with eight gold medals in leading the embattled members of the
Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines at the close of the 434rd
Sabah Age Group Invitational swimming meet yesterday in Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
Saavedra, 12 year-old find from Zamboanga, won in the 50m freestyle
(30.9 seconds), 100m freestyle (1:15), 200m butterfly ((2:47), 50m back
(36sec), 100mback (1:18), 200m back (2:52) and 200m freestyle (2:50.6)
and in the relay.
She, however, faces a two-year suspension from the Philippine Amateur
Swimming Association, whose president Mark Joseph claimed she did not
have the PASA approval to join the meet.
Other gold medal winners were Angela Cordero (3), Juliet Cordero (1) and
Nicole Tan (1). Hans Ramos had three silvers and two bronzes.
Other players, whose age eligibility was also questioned by Joseph, did
not compete and will file charges against the PASA head.
RP swim league gains headway
(The Philippine Star) Updated January 25, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Philippine Swimming League, a
confederation of swimming clubs whose aim is to upgrade swimming from
the grassroots level through regular swimming meets, expressed elation
over the progress of young swimmers and the support the Philippine
Sports Commission, parents and coaches are throwing behind the
nationwide program.
“We are moving in the right direction, thanks to the support of our
national coaches, the parents and the various swimming clubs who realize
the need to develop young talents,” said Olympian Susan Papa, who
organized Saturday’s national age group swimming meet at the Rizal
Memorial swimming pool.
Lawyer Ma. Luz Arzaga-Mendoza, president of the Aquatic Sports
Association of the Philippines, said the league’s age-group series is in
line with the PSC’s grassroots development program.
“The PSC wants to go to the very root of the problem – the lack of a
nationwide effort to train young swimmers – and regular, possibly weekly
competitions are what we need to bring youngsters to the swimming pool,
and from there help them go to the next level,” said Mendoza.
Papa said she saw a lot of potential swimmers who can be developed under
the program.
Among the upcoming stars from the meet were Moira Pilapil, Mark Joseph
Capa (6-under), Ana Marie Ibarra, Aki Lorbes and Kyle Libat (7-8), Paula
Cayanan, Troy Zamora (9-10), Ana Marie Rojo, Jose Antonio Suntay
(11-12), Delia Angela Cordero, Alfred Maglabe (13-14), and Dennise
Juliet Cordero, Jeje Tolentino (15-17).
“ASAP will help them and will organize a training program that also aims
to train coaches all over the country,” said Papa, adding that part of
the swimming meet program in every locality is a free coaching seminar
held by national coaches.
“We want to bring back the glory of swimming in our country and attain
international prestige. We should start winning again in the Asian Games
and make a decent finish in the Olympics like in the 60s and 70s,” said
Papa, a national butterfly swimmer four decades ago.
The league had conducted all its nationwide age-group competitions for
free at the Rizal Memorial pool, which PSC chairman Harry Angping makes
available for free in support of the program.
The league manages to keep organizational costs at a minimum also
because of parents, coaches and donors who contribute the medals and
officials who volunteer their services.
Among the outside donors are Growee vitamins, Darren Evangelista from
Davao, Fil-Am Sonia Papa Baltazar and TV producer Theresa Alvarez.
“We volunteer to help, we want Susan Papa to continue her mission in
swimming and we don’t want it to go to waste,” said ASAP treasurer
Elizabeth Mascardo.
Lipa hosts ASAP swim meet (The Philippine Star) Updated January 18, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Lipa Mayor Oscar Gozos
recently gave Southern Luzon’s grassroots swimming program a shot in the
arm with his hosting of the Aquatic Sports Association of the
Philippines (ASAP) age group swimming competition March 13 in his home
city.
ASAP secretary general Susan Papa said Gozos had offered the free use of
the 50-meter pool, built by former city mayor Vilma Santos, for the
event which will be held free of charge to any interested age group
swimmers.
“At least 500 swimmers will benefit from the generosity of Mayor Gozos,”
said Papa, who is organizing the meet in cooperation with Emil Amago,
head coach of the Lipa Mediatrix Swim Club.
Age-group events are for eight years and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14,
15-17 for boys and girls.
“The Batangas meet will be a unique competition to visiting participants
– ASAP members from NCR and Central Luzon – as it will be free,
competitive and educational.” said Papa.
Also to be held during the competition is a coaching seminar, where ASAP
national coaches Dennis Cordero, Manny Thruelen and Papa, a former
Olympian, will lend their expertise to local coaches to help swimmers
advance to the next level.
Free coaching clinics are also part of the year-round, nationwide
grassroots development program of ASAP.
Swim league makes waves in 2009, expands program
(The Philippine Star) Updated January 04, 2010 12:00 AM
Olympian Susan Papa (left) and coach Dennis Cordero (back) with young
swimmers during a break in their training.
MANILA, Philippines - The newly formed Philippine Swimming League
made huge strides in its grassroots development program with its
nationwide clinics and participation in local and international
competitions and vows to keep its program in motion during the year
buoyed up by the enthusiastic response of member clubs.
Susan Papa, former Asian Gamer who founded the RP Swimming League, said
the association, founded barely last July in response to parents’ need
for a regular, coordinated training program for young, aspiring
swimmers, had accomplished more than what it was tasked to do during the
last six months.
The league had sent young swimmers to four international competitions –
in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and Bangkok.
Swimmers of the Susan Papa Swimming Academy itself, run by Papa and
Susan Benasa, have been to four international meets.
“Two of my swimmers received a citation through a Senate resolution for
their gold medal win in Australia,” said Papa.
Papa said the league conducted two free competitions – both at the Rizal
Memorial swimming pool – to give students, particularly those from
public schools, the rare chance to test their mettle in competition.
More than 500 had competed in each of the two events which were backed
by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rotary Club of Manila Remedios
Circle, Growee and the City of Manila.
The league had also conducted two coaches’ seminars, one in Davao and
the other in Manila with no less than renowned Canada-based Filipino
coach Wilfredo Arzaga as main lecturer.
The league had also visited the provinces of Bohol, Davao and Batangas
and will touch base with other provinces in 2010 as part of its outreach
program.
On the local front, the Susan Papa Swimming Academy sent budding
swimmers to compete in and support invitational meets of the clubs of
Fontana, Pasiklaban, Quezon City and Antipolo.
“We have actually started our grassroots program in 2007 and we are
happy to draw support rom coaches in various cities,” said Papa.
Some of the big supporters of the Philippine Swimming League are Theresa
Alvarez, former producer of Battle of the Brains, Darren Evangelista
from the Evangelista Aquatic Sports Management in Davao, Growee, the
Aquatic Sprint School of Manny Thruelen and Dr. Vicky Santos, who
provides treatment for swimmers.
“The parents have given us the biggest support,” said Papa.
The league had received the full support of the Philippine Sports
Commission under chairman Harry Angping, who made the Rizal Memorial
swimming pool accessible to the league for its competitions.
Papa said it would also be counting on other institutions which are into
gassroots development like the Elorde Sports Center as possible
permanent venues for its swimming program.
Papa added that 2010 would be a busy year with monthly local
competitions to start Jan. 15 and 23, culminating in a championship in
December.
“The competitions will all be for free – no registration or entry fees.
The calendar for the year is fully booked, I wish there are more than 12
months during the year to make room for more competitions and seminars,”
said Papa.
Papa said the league will be setting up a different swimming format,
which will be competitive, yet educational.
Up in the calendar are the invitational meets in Davao in March.
Thirty members of the Susan Papa Academy will compete in the Malaysian
meet slated Feb. 4-6, but Papa said slots will be open to those who wish
to join. The Malaysian hosts have offered free accommodation, courtesy
of coach Dennis Cordero who had established relations with his Malaysian
counterparts.
Papa will also be sending five Filipino coaches who will undergo
training from Russian coaches invited to conduct the clinics.
Other international seminars are the World Swimming Coaches Association
Gold Medal Clinic 2010, the American Swimming Coaches Association and
the World Clinic in Indianapolis, USA – all slated Aug. 31-Sept. 5.
February 08, 2010
