Marking Brunei, Philippines ties
By Tony Alabastro & Rosli Abidin Yahya

Getting ready for the march-past. Photos: Rudolf Portillo

Vice Consul, Arlene Tullid-Magno, giving her speech at the opening of the Mini Olympics and Family Day yesterday.

Field performance by Tinkerbelle School pupils.

More than 500 Filipinos working and residing in the Sultanate yesterday took part in a Mini Olympics and Family Day held at the Berakas Sports Stadium to mark 20 years of Philippine-Brunei diplomatic relations.

"The Philippine Ambassador to Brunei, Ms Virginia H. Benavidez, has specifically requested for our Bruneian hosts to be able to join at least one of the games to show the close and friendly relations between the two countries over the years," said Vice Consul Arlene Tullid-Magno, who was the guest of honour at the function.

"I am sorry that Ambassador Benavidez cannot join us today because her mother passed away on Saturday and she had to go back to the Philippines to join her loved ones during this time of bereavement," she explained.

The Mini Olympics and Family Day, she added, was also held to commemorate the Philippines' 106th Independence Day this June.

Meanwhile, Vice Consul Magno also inducted the officers of the OFW Sports and Recreational Games Council headed by Rod Marcelo at yesterday's function.

The organisation, under the banner of the Filipino Association in Brunei, organised the Mini Olympics with the support of the Overseas Welfare Workers Association of the Philippine Embassy.

Rod Marcelo, the chairman of OFW SRGC, said the event was meant to provide recreational purposes for the OFWs in Brunei Darussalam.

"The sporting event is meant to build a nucleus of activities for OFWs in the sultanate and at the same time to create future champions in sports," he said, adding that the event was open to all OFWs and entrance for all the games were free.

At yesterday's event, the kindergarten and primary pupils of Tinkerbelle Learning School presented a field performance while Gina of Wanitas led a calisthenics/aerobics demonstration.

A parade was held at 7 am where the national anthems of Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines were played. A lighting of torch was also conducted by Popoy Marin.

The Mini Olympics ended at about 2 pm with a presentation of medals and trophies to the winners of the various track and field events as well as tug-of-war and other games like obstacle course, radiation course, three-legged race and sack race.

Winners of the tennis tournament organised by the Filipino Association Tennis Club also received their prizes.

Lito Belizario, the president of the Filipino Association, delivered the closing remarks for the function.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin