Sports in the Philippines

Rural children playing basketball in the Philippines.

Sports in the Philippines is an important part of the country's culture. There are six major sports in the Philippines. These are basketball, badminton, boxing, football, billiards, tennis and volleyball. Despite being a tropical nation, ice skating is a popular sport in the Philippines.^[1][2] Sports such as athletics, weightlifting, aerobics, and martial arts are also popular recreations.

Among the others there are: baseball, bowling, swimming, taekwondo, wrestling, underwater diving, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, cockfighting, horse racing, Cricket, Australian rules football, motor racing, sepak takraw, and jai alai are also appreciated. With the sport of cockfighting being wildly popular in the Philippines, attracting large crowds who bet on the outcome of fights between the birds,^[3] and the sport itself a popular form of fertility worship among almost all Southeast Asians.^[4] Such sports activity as the sport of cockfighting, related to ritual forms of worship as practices and rituals of ancient worship intended for the blessings of the supernatural, as "in Indus Valley and other ancient civilizations, mother goddess had been invoked for fertility and prosperity"^[5] which included that religious cockfight lay as a prime example of "cultural synthesis of 'little' and 'great' cultures"^[6] due to religious syncretisms causing the loss for some of religious significance and hence a sport, while remaining for some as a form of ‘fertility worship’ and still for others as Baal or Baalim.

On July 27, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9850 into law, declaring Modern Arnis as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport.^[7]

Sports remain a popular aspect of Philippine culture. As such, the country's government has had several attempts at improving its athletics program through various Republic Acts and Senate Bills. Meanwhile, each sporting community hosts/joins both local and international tournaments with the purpose of building itself and/or gauging itself against its peers.

Philippine Sports Commission

PSC based on R.A. 6847

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was created through Republic Act No. 6847 (known as "The Philippine Sports Commission Act")^[8] and approved on January 24, 1990 to serve as the "sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Philippines". Its primary function is "to provide the leadership, formulate the policies and set the priorities and directions of all national sports promotion and development, particularly giving emphasis on grassroots participation."

Status, nature, objectives, and functions

The following describes the status, nature, objectives, functions, and powers of the PSC^[8]–hereinafter referred to as the Commission–in detail:

Status of the Commission – The Commission shall have the same status as that of a governmental regulatory national agency attached to the Office of the President with the Chairman thereof being of the same level as a department undersecretary and the Commissioners that of department assistant secretaries.

Nature of the Commission – The Commission shall exercise corporate powers. It shall have a seal, may sue and be sued, and shall be the sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Philippines: Provided, That in the case of the school sports development program, the same shall be formulated and implemented by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) with the assistance of the Commission within the framework of the national sports development program.

Objectives of the Commission – The Objectives of the Commission are:

1. To provide the leadership, formulate the policies and set the priorities and direction of all national amateur sports promotion and development, particularly giving emphasis on grass-roots participation;
2. To encourage wide participation of all sectors, government and private, in amateur sports promotion and development; and
3. To supplement government appropriations for sports promotion and development.

Functions of the Commission – The Commission shall have the following functions:

1. Plan, implement and oversee an integrated amateur sports promotion and development program for the country, including the program for the Decade of Physical Fitness and Sports: 1990-2000, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 406, in coordination with various sectors involved in sports, including among others, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the National Sports Associations, the public and private schools, government corporations and entities, the local governments, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other sports organizations and private corporations;
2. Establish and maintain linkages with international sports associations, national sports commissions or organizations of other countries, and international nongovernmental organizations whose main objective is sports;
3. Plan and oversee a program to enable the Philippines to bid for and to host the Olympic Games at the earliest practicable time;
4. Establish, develop and maintain fully equipped sports facilities and centers in strategic places in the country and, as far as practicable, such modern sports complexes adequate for major international competitions;
5. Rationalize and regulate the establishment of publicly funded sports complexes and supervise the management and maintenance thereof, excluding school or college-owned sports complexes;
6. Plan and formulate programs and review or evaluate, from time to time, the organizational set-up, projects and programs of the Commission;
7. Develop and promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act, including rules to delineate and define areas of responsibilities of all sectors involved in sports promotion and development, respecting the individual set-up, priorities, structure and competence of the different government and private institutions;
8. Assist the proper government agency in the formulation of an industry incentives program for the manufacture in the Philippines of sports equipment and supplies of international standard in quality;
9. Provide such incentives, recognition and awards to deserving associations, athletes, referees, game officials, coaches, trainers and other persons or entities involved in or supporting sports development as may be permissible under the rules of amateurism;
10. Recommend and propose to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Department of Local Government and other government agencies and instrumentalities having sports programs, to incorporate in their respective annual budgets, a separate and specific budget for sports promotion and development;
11. Conduct basic and applied research on sports development;and prolonged
12. Conduct promotion and fund-raising campaigns in accordance with existing laws to achieve the purposes of the Commission;
13. Encourage, promote and sustain the creation and establishment of regional, provincial, municipal and barangay or school district sports promotion and development councils, composed of officials of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Department of Local Government, local government officials, and representatives of the private sector, which shall initiate, conduct and coordinate sports activities in their respective jurisdictions; and
14. Exercise such other acts as are incident to or are appropriate and necessary in connection with the creation of the Commission.

Powers of the Commission - The Commission has the power to do all acts and things necessary to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions, including:

1. To appoint the officers and other personnel of the Commission and fix their compensation subject to existing laws, rules and regulations;
2. To delegate authority for the performance of any function to officers and employees under its direction;
3. To enter into contracts;
4. To acquire, use and control any land, building, facilities, equipment, instruments, tools and rights required or otherwise necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Commission;
5. To acquire, own, possess and dispose of any real or personal property;
6. To regulate the acquisition, procurement, distribution and use of sportswear, equipment, instruments, tools and other sports necessities necessary and required for training of a national pool of athletes;
7. To assist and support national associations in the implementation of Section 13 of this Act;
8. To confer, extend and grant awards, benefits and privileges to athletes, coaches and officials for outstanding performances in national and international competitions;
9. To confer, extend and grant support or assistance to sports associations which are in good standing with the Commission;
10. To exercise supervisory and visitorial powers over the national sports associations in connection with their sports promotion and development programs with respect to which financial assistance is extended by the Commission;
11. To accept donations, gifts, bequests, and grants for the purposes of the Commission;
12. To ensure the implementation by various government departments and agencies of their sports promotion and development programs as indicated in their respective annual budgets;
13. To impose sanctions upon any national sports association, institution, association, body, entity, team, athlete and sports official for violation of its policies, rules and regulations; and
14. To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its creation.

Olympics

The Philippines has participated in all editions of the Olympics except in 1980 when it joined the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. The country is also the first tropical nation to participate at the Winter Olympics, debuting at the 1972 edition and has participated in three other edition of the winter games. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is the National Olympic Committee of the Philippines.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)

The POC, an affiliate of the International Olympic Committee, is recognized as the National Olympic Committee for the Philippines and is autonomous in character.

Its primary responsibility pertain to the country's participation in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and other international athletic competitions in accordance respectively with the rules and regulations of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the Southeast Asian Games Federation and other international sports bodies.^[8]

National Sports Associations (NSA)

NSAs–organized for their respective sports in the Philippines and/or affiliated with their respective international federations, which are recognized by the International Olympic Committee–are recognized as such by the Commission.

The national sports association recognized by the Commission shall be autonomous and shall have exclusive technical control over the promotion and development of the particular sport for which they are organized, subject however to the supervisory and visitorial powers of the Commission.^[8]

Below is a complete list of the various NSAs:

NSA	Location	Contact Details
Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA)	Rm. 308, Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Pencak Silat Association (PHILSILAT)	Football Dugout, RMSC P. Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU)	305 Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Pasig City	Email: [email protected]
Philippine Sailing Association (PSA)	Standard Insurance Tower, 8th Floor, 999 Pedro Gil, Ermita, Manila	Tel: [phone] loc.6301 Fax: [phone] Email: []
Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA)	Grnd. Flr., RMSC, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Tel:[phone]-0457 Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA)	Tennis Center,RMSC, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Tel:[phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Tournament Bridge Association (PTBA)	9th/F Sage House, 110 V.A. Rufino St. Legaspi Village, Makati City	Telefax: 810-8286 Email: [email protected]
Philippine Underwater Hockey Confederation (PUHC)	133 F Scout Rallos St., Kamuning, Quezon City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF)	RMSC, Swimming Stadium, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Weightlifting Association (PWA)	205 Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Pasig City	Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP)	Shell Magallanes, #1 Humabon St. Magallanes Ave. South Super Highway, Makati City 1232	Email: [email protected]
Sports Climbing Association of the Philippines (SCAP)	690 Tandang Sora Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City 1116	Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP)	4th Floor, Filipino Bldg, 135 Dela Rosa St. Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229	Tel: [phone]-9061 Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP)	2nd Floor Rm. 203 Administration Bldg., RMSC, PSC, Vito Cruz St., Malate, Manila	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP)	Rm. 202, Floor, Bldg. A, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP)	206 Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Pasig City	Mobile: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP)	5th Floor Phil. Center for Sports Medicine Bldg. RMSC, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Finswimming Federation, Inc. (PFF, Inc.)		Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA)		Tel: [phone]-6658 Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Philippine Handball Federation (PHF)
Wakeboarding & Waterski Association of the Philippines		Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Swimming Inc.	Rm. 201, Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Website: www.philippineswimming.org Email: [email protected]
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA)	PATAFA Office, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, M. Adriatico St. Malate, Manila 1004	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Philippine Badminton Association (PBA)	Badminton Hall, RMSC P. Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Philippine Windsurfing Association, Inc.	24 Bagobo St., La Vista Subdivision, Quezon City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC)	PSC Bowling Center, RMSC, Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila	Tel: [phone] Telefax: 400-3463 Email: [email protected]
Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF)	732 Ongping Street, Binondo, Manila	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF)	Bowling Office Annex, RMSC, Malate, Manila	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: www.pdbf.com
Philippine Duckpin Bowling Council (PDBC)	847 Cristobal St., Sampaloc, Manila	Telefax: 781-7247 Email: [email protected]
Philippine Football Federation (PFF)	27 Danny Floro corner Henry Javier St., 1600 Pasig City	Tel: [phone]-2870 Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: philfootball.info.ph
Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF)	2nd Floor Dorm B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: www.philippinekaratedo.com http://olympic.ph/nsas/karatedo.html
Philippine Lawn Bowls Association (PLBA)	Zepilin St. Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga	Telefax: [phone] Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Philippine Skating Union (PhSU)	Bldg. B, SM Corp. Office, SM Center, Business Park, Bay Blvd., Pasay City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines(ICFP)	9th/F Marvin Plaza Bldg., Pasong Tamo, Cor. Herrera St., Makati City	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Muay Association of the Philippines(MAP)	Muay Gym, PSC Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]
World Archery-Philippines	Room 103 Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)	Barangay Kaybagal South Tagaytay City, 4120	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP)	Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Pasig City	Tel: [phone]-7849 Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
National Motorcycle Sports & Safety Association(NAMSSA)	36 San Geronimo St., Magallanes Village, Makati City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: www.namssa.org
Philippine Fencing Association (PFA)	PSC Fencing Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: www.philippinefencing.com
Philippine Judo Federation (PJF)	RMSC, Baseball Dugout, Adriatico, Malate, Manila	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (PASTA)	102 Bldg. B Philsports Complex, Pasig City	Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Amendments to R.A. 6847

Senate Bill no. 2518^[9] was filed on September 14, 2010 by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid to amend the original R.A. 6847 in response to the dismal performances exhibited by the Philippines’ sports teams during international competitions after decades of the PSC’s existence. The bill intends “to put more teeth” to the PSC charter by providing more institutionalized support to athletes, coaches, and sports-related medicine and research.

Among the complaints reiterated by the bill’s explanatory note were the sub-standard uniforms, lack of proper facilities, equipment and supplies for training—all of which were attributed to the lack of sufficient government funding to support the needs of the Philippines’ national athletes. It also blamed the lack of leadership within the Commission that led to country’s lack of an integrated sports direction that would assimilate each segment of our society through the "Sports For All" program.

Below are some of the key sections of R.A. 6847 recommended by the bill to be amended:

1. Section 7: Functions of the Commission - The inclusion of the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (PHILSPADA) in the list of association that the Commission must coordinate and assist in accordance to the promotion of an integrated amateur sports program.
2. Section 8: Composition of the Commission - A more explicit definition of the composition of the Commission, which requires appointments made by the President to be informed by the recommendation of the Philippine Olympic Commission. It also defines the exact length of the Chairman and the Commissioners’ terms in office while also providing specifications for discharge.
3. Insertion of a new Section 14 - Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled: The establishment and recognition of PHILSPADA as the official national paralympic committee of the Philippines that affiliated with the international paralympic committee.
4. Section 15: Executive Director - The inclusion of a clause that co-terminates the appointed Executive Director, as well as the Deputy Executive Directors, with the Chairman that assigned the person to said position.
5. Section 19: Tax Exemption of the Commission, POC, NSA, and PHILSPADA - The inclusion of the POC, NSA, and PHILSPADA, in the tax exemptions possessed by the Commission for all sports-related payments that will be used for the development of the national athletic programs.
6. Inclusion of a new Section 23-A: Rental Income - The requirement of all rental income from the sports equipment and facilities owned by the PSC to be remitted directly to the Commission for appropriate use for the development of the national athletic programs.

Criticism and controversies

On April 9, 2012, Sen. Antonio Trillanes filed a bill (Senate Bill No. 3092) which seeks the creation of a Department of Sports which will be in charge of developing and promoting sports program in the country. According to Trillanes, the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), which was supposed to “oversee, reforms and jumpstart the state of Philippines Sports” has yet to accomplish this since its creation 21 years prior. There have been issues such as lack of a comprehensive national sports program, obsolete training methods, the lack of state-of-the art facilities and modern equipment which are seen as the reason for the country’s poor performance in competitions in the international level.^[10]

In 2013, Senator Pia Cayetano pushed for a deferral of the budget to be given to the Philippine Sports Commission for the succeeding year. The senator warned the commission of a possible “zero-budget” allocation and filing of charges to PSC officials for their inability to monitor the National Sports Associations(NSAs). This resulted in the failure of some of the nation’s top athletes in being able to represent the country in the 27th Southeast Asian Games held in Myanmar. This included the Philippine Dragonboat Team that just came off from winning 6 golds and a silver medal in the World Dragonboat Championship in Milan. This was one case of various cases of athletes not being able to represent in the SEA Games due to internal conflict in their respective NSAs. The senator was blaming the PSC for not intervening to resolve these conflicts to let the athletes participate in the event.^[11]

The PSC defended themselves from the remarks of senator Pia Cayetano by stating that the PSC is not responsible for the decisions of the NSAs. However, the senator was quick to respond to this by citing Section 11 of the Republic Act No. 6847 that specifically states the commission has the rights to “exercise power and visitorial powers over the national sports associations…” Despite Pia Cayetano’s statements against the PSC, the budget for 2014 amounting to 182.3 million php to be allocated to the PSC was still approved by the senate. This comes from a much bigger national government budget of 2014 amounting to 2.268-trillion php. PSC chairman Richie Garcia was thankful for the senators who approved of the budget after being threatened with a zero-budget allocation for 2014.^[12]

Philippine Department of Sports

As of April 2016, the Department of Sports is an administrative sector of the government that is yet to be constructed in the Philippines. Affairs concerning sports, locally and internationally, are currently handled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), respectively.

On February 26, 2016, a press release from the Philippine House of Representatives indicates that the creation of a Department of Sports in the Philippines has been filed to improve the state of sports in the country. Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, chairman of the House committee on Labor and Employment, proposed House Bill 6440 (Department of Sports Act) to address the issues surrounding Philippine sports.

The proposed Department of Sports, as indicated in the press release, will be "a cabinet-level agency to provide leadership in the promotion and development of sports in the country and set the parameters to address the needs of athletes, coaches, trainers and sports officials".^[13] The department will also aim to create policies that will improve the country’s performance in international sport competitions.

In the press release, Rep. Nograles said, "It is now high time for the government to prioritize sports in the national agenda, and consider sports as an integral factor in nation building."^[13] Nograles believes that the PSC has not done well in improving the sports in the country, stating, "After more than 20 years since the creation of the PSC, the state of Philippine sports appears to have worsened rather than improved.”^[13]

His proposal includes the abolishment of the PSC, and contrariwise, provides the development of the Amateur Sports Development Bureau (ASDB), which has the primary task in the promotion and development of amateur sports in the country. Likewise, The Grassroots Sport Division and Local and National Sports Competition Division shall be established under the department. Moreover, the International Sports Development Bureau will also be constructed, and will be composed of the National Sports Association Affairs Division and the International Sports Competition Division.

The proposal requests for a two hundred million peso worth of fund to support the department’s initial operational expenditures.

Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation

History

The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation was established during the American administration in January 1911. Organized sports were introduced through the PAAF which organized the Far Eastern Championship Games in 1913 which was participated by China, Japan and was hosted by the Philippines in Manila. In 1929, the PAAF was recognized as the Philippines’ National Olympic Committee after a Filipino swimmer, Teofilo Yldefonso won the Philippines’ first olympic medal - a bronze in the 200 meters backstroke event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. It was then abolished in 1975 and renamed to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after the establishment of Department of Youth and Sports Development.^[14]

After the enactment of Republic Act 3135 on January 23, 1961 (which revised the PAAF charter), each sport was allowed to organize its own autonomous association and affiliate with their mother international federation.^[15]

Governance

The founding president of the PAAF was Governor General William Cameron Forbes (1911-1916) and the first Filipino president was Senator Manuel L Quezon who succeeded Forbes from 1911 to 1935. Nereo Andolong was the first president after the PAAF was recognized as the Philippines’ National Olympic Committee.^[16]

List of Presidents
	President	Term
		From	To
1	Forbes, William CameronWilliam Cameron Forbes	1911	1916
1	Quezon, Manuel L.Manuel L. Quezon	1916	1935
1	Vargas, Jorge B.Jorge B. Vargas	1936	1955
1	de las Alas, AntonioAntonio de las Alas	1956	1968
1	Monserrat, FelipeFelipe Monserrat	1969	1970
1	Padilla, AmbrosioAmbrosio Padilla	1970	1976
	Andolong, NereoNereo Andolong	1977	1980
	Malonso, JulianJulian Malonso	1980provisional
	Keon, MichaelMichael Keon	1981	1984
	Sering, JoseJose Sering	1985	1992
	Cruz, ReneRene Cruz	1993	1996
	Ramos, CristyCristy Ramos	1997	April 1999
	Dayrit, CelsoCelso Dayrit	May 1999	2004
	Cojuangco, Jr., JoseJose Cojuangco, Jr.	January 2005	present
Key      Presidents of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF)      Presidents of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)

*table taken from Philippine Olympic Committee Wikipedia page

Individual Sports

The following is a list of individual-based sports that are prevalent in the Philippines. All of them are supported by a National Sports Association and most have communities that host local and international competitions for those interested. The popularity of these sports vary, and thus, the number of tournaments and opportunities vary based on the size of the respective sports community.

Archery

Archery, which originated from the Latin word arcus that literally refers to a bow, is the sport of using a bow in order to propel arrows. Target archery is the most common sport under archery and it manipulates the distances of the archers while they shoot at stationary circular targets. The World Archery Federation ultimately governs competitive archery in the world and sets the standard rules for conditions in the competitions in which the standard distances may vary across age groups or between sexes. The World Archery-Philippines, originally known as the Philippine Archers’ National Network and Alliance(PANNA), is the national governing body for archery in the Philippines and it is accredited by the World Archery Federation.

Arnis

Arnis is a form of martial art and is the national sport of the Philippines. It involves the usage of hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling and weapon disarming techniques. Generally, there is an emphasis in the use of weapons such as sticks or knives but some systems make use of empty hands as the main focus and no use of weapons are needed. This art is commonly found in the Philippines, the United States, Canada and Germany but many other nations practice this martial art as well.

There are two main types of Arnis practised as a sport. Firstly there is the system called WEKAF (World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation)^[17] which is commonly used internationally. There is also the ARPI (Arnis Philippines) System^[18] which was used during the Southeast Asian Games.

The International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) was formed in 1970 as the principal organization for promotion and organization of Modern Arnis in North America. International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines (IMAFP) is based in the Philippines.

Badminton

Badminton is a sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opponent's side of the court. Each side is only allowed to hit the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. The play ends once the shuttlecock hits the floor or is stopped by the umpire due to a fault.

Badminton in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Badminton Association with chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Billiards

BIlliards is a term used to define cue sports in general such as pool or snooker. It is played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth and has 6 side pockets (one for each corner and in the middle of each long side) bounded by rubber cushions. Cue sports or Billiard sports are played with a cue stick which is used to strike the billiard balls and involves a variety of games of skill.

The Billiards & Snooker Confederation of the Philippines (BSCP) is the official governing body for cue sports in the Philippines. It is a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and is recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The BSCP is also a member of the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU), Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports^[19] and Asian Carom Billiards Confederation. These three organizations are all recognized under the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS) ,the only recognized international governing body for billiards by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As the governing body for billiards in the country, the BSCP is responsible for selecting players for World and Asian Championships, Asian and Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

Bowling

Bowling refers to a series of sports in which a player rolls or throws a bowling ball towards a target. It is one of the major forms of throwing sports. In pin bowling variations, the target is usually to knock over pins at the end of a lane. When all the pins are knocked down on the first roll, this is a strike. In target variations, the aim is usually to get the ball as close to a mark as possible.

Bowling in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Bowling Congress.

Boxing

Boxing is a form of martial art and a combat sport. The Philippines is one of the 11 countries which established the World Boxing Council (WBC) which sanction world championship boxing bouts. The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) was also initially founded by Filipino, Korean and Japanese Boxing commissions to sanction title fights in the Asian and Pacific regions. The Philippines has produced one of the most number of boxing champions in the world such as Francisco Guilledo (Pancho Villa) , Ceferino Garcia , Nonito Donaire (The Filipino Flash) and Manny Pacquiao (Pacman).

Boxing is among the most popular individual sports in the Philippines. Some Filipino boxers such as Manny Pacquiao, Gabriel Elorde and Pancho Villa are recognized internationally. The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is the governing body for amateur boxing in the country.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (formerly Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines) (ABAP) is the governing body of amateur boxing in the Philippines. The ABAP's current goal is for the country to win its first ever Olympic gold medal in boxing, to be recognized as one of the world's boxing powers as well as to improve the image of the Philippines abroad. The country continually produces talented fighters, often in the junior featherweight division (122 pounds and below). The International Boxing Association sanctions amateur (Olympic-style) boxing matches which allows the national amateur boxing athletes of the Philippines to represent the country and compete in regional, continental and international matches and tournaments. The Philippines has currently 2 silvers and 3 bronze medals from the Olympics.

Bridge

Bridge is a trick-taking, card-based game that is played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. The sport's NSA is known as the Philippine Tournament Bridge Association, which routinely hosts the ASEAN Bridge Club Championships^[20] along with fellow ASEAN members Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Canoeing

Canoeing is a sport or recreational activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. The main form of competitive canoeing is sprint canoe. It is an open boat propelled by one, two or four paddlers from a kneeling position, using single-bladed paddles. The difficulty of balance can depend on how wide or narrow the canoe is, although regularly the less contact a canoe has with the water the faster it goes. This makes the narrower boats much faster and popular when it comes to racing.

Canoeing in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation. It is accredited by the International Canoe Federationwhich is the governing body for the sport of Canoe in the world. Jonne Go is the current president of the PCKF.

Chess

Chess is a board game played by two players on a checkered gameboard with 64 squares in an eight-by-eight grid. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines is the national governing body for Chess in the Philippines and it is a member of the World Chess Federation, the international organization in charge of connecting chess organizations across the world.

Climbing

Sport climbing involves high-intensity climbing on relatively short routes. Its distinguishing characteristics include preplaced bolts and an emphasis on the physical aspect of the climb rather than the destination or summit.^[21] The Sports Climbing Association of the Philippines, Inc. (SCAPI) is the NSA that is dedicated to the promotion, development, and awareness of sport and rock climbing in the Philippines and the selection of its finest athletes who represent our country in international competitions and invitationals.^[22]

Cycling

Cycle sport is a physical sport that makes use of bicycles. There are numerous events under competitive cycling. An example is road bicycle racing where cyclists race on pavements and the winner is decided with ranking on who gets to the finish line first. The Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines(ICFP) is the governing body for cycling in the Philippines.

Dancesports

Dancesport denotes competitive Ballroom dancing as compared to social or exhibition dancing. The name was created to help competitive ballroom dancing gain Olympic recognition.

The Dancesports Council of the Philippines (DSCP) is the official governing body for dancesport in the country. It is currently registered under the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) which is the international governing body of dancesport and Wheelchair DanceSport, as recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

Duckpin Bowling

Duckpin Bowling is a variation of ten-pin bowling. The balls used in duckpin bowling are slightly larger than a softball and lack finger holes. They are significantly smaller than those used in ten-pin bowling but are slightly larger and heavier than those used in candlepin bowling. The pins are smaller, shorter and lighter than the ones normally used in ten-pin bowling making it more difficult to land a strike. The bowler is allowed three rolls per frame as opposed to the standard two rolls in ten-pin bowling.

Duckpin Bowling in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Duckpin Bowling Council, headed by Inez G. Magbual.

Figure Skating

Ice skating rinks used as venues for figure skating are limited to shopping malls in the country, particularly in the Metro Manila area. The first ice skating rink in the country was opened in 1992 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. The first Olympic sized ice skating rink was opened at the SM Mall of Asia. An ice skating rink also operates in SM Southmall. There are more figure skating coaches in the Philippines than ice hockey coaches and the first Filipino ice skating coaches were roller skaters. The Philippine Championship is a national competitive for ice skating in which the winner gets to represent the country in international competitions.^[23] The Philippines has also managed to qualify and send a figure skater to the 2014 Winter Olympics becoming the first Southeast Asian country to do so at the Winter Olympics. The said figure skater was Michael Christian Martinez.^[24]

Finswimming

Finswimming is an underwater sport involving swimming with the use of fins either on the water's surface which can either be bi-fin which uses a double-bladed swim fin or monofin. It differs from swimming in the use of masks, fins, snorkels and underwater breathing apparatus. This reflects the sport’s origins in the underwater diving techniques of snorkeling, breath-hold diving and open circuit scuba diving. Finswimming is a form of speed competition in the SEAGAMES and WORLD GAMES. Finswimming was formerly launched in the Philippines through the help of the Local Government of Quezon City under the administration of City Mayor Sonny Belmonte last March 31, 2006 to April 2, 2006.^[25]

Fencing

Fencing is a sport with two competitors fighting using swords. Points are earned upon the sword’s contact on the opponent. Bouts are held on a standard strip between 1.5 and 2 meters wide and 14 meters long. The fencers are fully dressed also wearing a mask in bouts and are also accompanied by a referee. The Philippine Fencing Association, a member of the International Fencing Federation that is the governing body for fencing in the world, is the governing body for fencing in the Philippines.

Golf

Golf is a sport that utilizes a variety of clubs to hit balls into a number of holes on a set course given the goal of getting the balls in the holes with as few strokes as possible. The sport in the country is regulated by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, an NSA that is a member of the International Golf Federation, the governing body for golf in the world.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring strength, flexibility, balance and control. Internationally, all events are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) or International Federation of Gymnastics (IFG). Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks that included skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills. Other FIG disciplines include: rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling, and aerobic gymnastics.

Judo

Judo is a combat sport originating from Japan where the main objective of each competitor is to throw, takedown, or pin and ultimately subdue the opponent in order to achieve points in the competition. Given conditions are set by the International Judo Federation, the governing body for the sport of Judo in the world. Judo in the Philippines is controlled by the Philippine Judo Federation, which is accredited by the International Judo Federation.

Karatedo

Karate is a martial art developed on the Ryukyu islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. Karate is predominantly a striking art using punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes and open hand techniques such as knife-hands, spear-hands, and palm-heel strikes. Tournaments are designed to match participants against each other in sparring and weapons demonstration. They are often separated by age, rank and sex with potentially different rules based on these factors.

Karate in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Karatedo Federation, headed by Raymond Lee Reyes. Member of Asian Karatedo Federation with 39 affiliated countries in Asia and duly recognized by the World Karate Federation, the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countriesworldwide.

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and then the other in rotation.^[26] Kayak races were introduced in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936.

Kayaking in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation. It is accredited by the International Canoe Federationwhich is the governing body for the sport of Canoe in the world. Jonne Go is the current president of the PCKF.

Lawn Bowls

Lawn Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll biased balls so they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a bowling green which may be flat, convex or uneven. Lawn bowls is usually played on a large, rectangular, precisely levelled and manicured grass or synthetic surface known as a bowling greenwhich is divided into parallel playing strips called rinks.

Lawn Bowls in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Lawn Bowls Association, led by Geoffrey Greenless. It is accredited by the Professional Bowls Association which is the governing body for the sport of Lawn Bowls in the world.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai, which originates from Thailand and is known for its stand-up striking and clinching, is a combat sport known as “The Art of Eight Limbs”. These eight limbs are characterized by the utilization of fists, elbows, knees, and shins for each fighter in a given fight. Fights are only between two fighters and with accordance to the World Muaythai Council, the official world governing body for professional Muaythai, there are either three or five rounds of two minutes each. The national governing body for Muay Thai in the Philippines is the Muay Association of the Philippines and it is accredited by the World Muaythai Council.

Motorcycle sport

Motorcycle sport consists of a wide array of sports involved in motorcycling. Motocross, for example, is a sport the uses off-road circuits for racing events on motorcycles. There is also freestyle motocross where the objective of the riders is to do jumps and stunts that would gain them points from the assigned judges. The organization that regulates motorcycle sports in the Philippines is the National Motorcycle Sports & Safety Association(NAMMSSA).

Pencak Silat

Pencak silat is an umbrella term for a class of full-body fighting martial arts originating in Indonesia that incorporates strikes, grappling and throwing, in addition to weaponry. It is primarily regulated by the Philippine Pencak Silat Association—an NSA accredited by the Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antara Bangsa, which is the governing body for pencak silat in the world.

The sport is included in the annual Philippine National Games hosted by the POC and PSC. The Philippines also sends delegates to represent the country in the Pencak Silat World Championship,^[27] a major international competition hosted by PERSILAT.

Powerlifting

Powerlifting is a form of competitive weightlifting in which contestants attempt three types of lifts (the squat, the deadlift and the bench press) in a set sequence. The Powerlifting Association of the Philippines is the NSA that governs the sport. Locally, powerlifters have the chance to prove themselves in the RAW Philippine National Powerlifting Championship.^[28] The sport enjoys more international opportunities, as Philippine powerlifters compete in the likes of the Asian Powerlifting Championships in India, the World Classic Powerlifting Championships in the United States of America,^[29] and the World Open Powerlifting Championship in Canada.^[30]

Sailing

Competitive sailing competitions are known as regattas—a competition that consists of multiple individual races where the boat that performs best in each race is the overall winner. It is regulated by the Philippine Sailing Association, which is recognized by World Sailing, the international body that was formerly known as the International Sailing Federation.

Philippine teams routinely compete in various amateur competitions such as the Varsity Boat Race in Malaysia^[31] and the ARAE-FEARA International Regatta in Ilocos Norte. One of the biggest tournaments hosted within the country is the Punta Fuego Regatta^[32] in Batangas.

Additionally, Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit foundation run by Philippine-based sailors whose vision is "to be a driving force in Philippine Sailing and establishing the country’s 7,107 islands as the premier sailing destination in Asia." One of their principle goals has been to re-stage the Philippine Hobie Challenge.

Shooting

Amateur shooting in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA), an NSA that covers both Olympic discipline shooting sports and non-Olympic shooting events like the bench rest or practical pistol. Government-controlled facilities that support the discipline include the PNSA-PSC Shooting Ranges for 10 meter, 25 meter and 50 meter events (located in the Marines area of Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City) and the PNSA Clay Target Range for Trap and Skeet events (located in Muntinlupa).

The National Open is a yearly competition that puts both young and adult shooters in a series of monthly shooting events. Winners from these events are chosen for the National Training Pool, and receive support like ammunition, allowance, or both. This is followed by monthly competitions, where shooters strive to achieve their event's Minimum Qualification Scores, currently pegged as the bronze score from the Asian Games for selection to compete in international shooting events, starting with regional level events leading up to the Olympic Games.

Skating

Figure skating is a sport where groups, duos, or individuals are able to perform on ice using figure skates. Speed skating, on the other hand, refers to the sport of competitive racing on ice where the athletes are supposed to travel certain distances. The governing body for skating in the Philippines is the Philippine Skating Union, a member of the International Skating Union which is the international governing body for competitive ice skating.

Soft Tennis

Soft Tennis, like regular tennis is played by individuals (singles) or pairs (doubles) whose aim is to hit the ball over the net. This differs from lawn tennis such that instead of using hard yellow felt balls, soft tennis uses softer rubber balls.

The Philippine Soft Tennis Association (PSTA) is the national governing body for soft tennis in the Philippines and is accredited by the International Soft Tennis Federation, the international governing body for soft tennis. It is also a regular member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). It holds local tournaments such as Philippine National Games (PNG), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Batang Pinoy^[33] and PSTA Junior Soft Tennis Series.^[34] The Philippines also participates in international competitions in Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia where they continually bring home silver and bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Squash

Squash rackets is a racket sports played in a four-walled court with a long-handled strung racket and a small rubber ball. It is usually played by two people (singles), but it can be played by four (doubles).^[35] The players must alternately strike the ball with their racket; aiming to make the ball hit the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court. The Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) aims to develop the sports squash in the Philippines, and widen interest in the sport. The SRAP participates in regional competitions like the South East Asian Games, the Asian Games, and Asian Squash Federation or World Squash Federation sanctioned competitions.^[36]

Swimming

Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports. The goal is to break individual or personal records while beating competitors who are attempting to do the same. In competitive swimming, there are four major styles established: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. In olympic competitions, pools measure 50 metres (160 ft) for the long course and 25 metres (82 ft) wide, with ten lanes labelled zero to nine. The lanes must at least be 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide. The pool must also have a minimum depth of two metres. Open-water swimming also exists wherein participants swim in lakes or even oceans.

Swimming in the Philippines is regulated by the Philippine Swimming Inc., led by Mark Joseph. It is accredited by the International Swimming Federation (Fédération Internationale de Natation or FINA) which is the governing body for the sport of Swimming in the world.

Table Tennis

Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using a small paddle. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as follows: Players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce one time on their side of the table, and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side at least once. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. The Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP) is a registered corporation with the SEC and aims to maximize participation in table tennis in the Philippines and produce world class players.^[37]

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean-based martial art that emphasizes head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. It is mainly governed by the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA), which is also a member of the World Taekwondo Federation.

The sport has gained enough popularity in the country to enable practitioners to compete in various international, national, and regional tournaments. In the regional level, some of the most popular tournaments include the government-sponsored Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy tournaments as well as the privately established University Athletic Association of the Philippines. In the national level, prominent tournaments include, but are not limited to, the National Taekwondo Championships, the PTA Taekwondo League, and the MVP Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships. In the international level, the Olympics remains the highest level of play, with a bevy of qualifying tournaments hosted before it.^[38]

Tennis

Tennis is a racket-based sport that is played on a variety of surfaces; in the Philippines, the most common of which are hard and clay courts.^[39] The NSA that governs the sport is the Philippine Tennis Association, whose chairman is Jean Henri Lhuillier. His involvement in the sport is the reason for one of the sports' most prominent amateur tournaments in the Philippines—the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championships. Tennis is also included in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, but with a system that emphasizes a more team-oriented approach which goes against the primarily individual nature of the sport. Meanwhile, internationally, Filipino athletes are able to compete in the Olympics, Southeast Asian Games, and the Davis Cup.

Outside of basketball tennis is the most played sport in the Philippines especially for the middle age and up category. Many housing subdivisions have tennis courts that can be enjoyed by both residents and guests. Most towns also have a tennis court that operates a tennis club member only system that maintains and operates the tennis court while the original construction is sponsored by the local government.

The International Tennis Federation also uses a ranking system^[40] which objectively categorizes its players according to their skill level. The only current Filipino to qualify for a notable ranking is Alberto Lim, who is listed at the 19th spot.^[41]

Track and Field

Track and field involves athletic contests established on the skills of running, jumping, and throwing. The name is derived from the sport's typical venue: a round oval running track enclosing an open field where the jumping and throwing events take place. The running events are won by the athletes with the fastest time. The jumping and throwing events are won by the athletes with the greatest distances covered. Most track and field events are individual sports but athletes may also participate in relays. Track ovals have a standardised length of 400m and the tracks are split into six to eight running lanes.

Track and field in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) led by Philip Ella Juico.

Triathlon

Triathlon is an activity that combines swimming, cycling and running in one event. The three sports are performed consecutively with no breaks. The portion of a triathlon where athletes change from one sport to the next is called a transition.^[42] The Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) is a National Sports Association (NSA) or National Federation (NF) governing the sport of triathlon in the Philippines. It is a non-sock, non-profit, non-government organization founded in 1987.^[43]

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is the sport of riding over water on a short surfboard and performing stunts while holding a rope towed by a speedboat. It is the combination of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing. The rider is usually towed behind a motorboat, typically at speeds of 30–40 km/h (18-25 mph), depending on the board size, rider's weight, type of tricks, and rider's comfort. Wakeboarding & Waterski Association of the Philippines is the NSA which handles events regarding wakeboarding and water skiing in the Philippines.

Water Skiing

Water skiing is a surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation over a body of water, skimming the surface on two skis or one ski. The sport requires sufficient area on a smooth stretch of water, one or two skis, a tow boat with tow rope, three people (depending on state boating laws), and a personal flotation device. In addition, the skier must have adequate upper and lower body strength, muscular endurance, and good balance. There are water ski participants around the world, in Asia and Australia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. In the United States alone, there are approximately 11 million water skiers and over 900 sanctioned water ski competitions every year. Australia boasts 1.3 million water skiers.

Weightlifting

Weightlifting is the sport of lifting barbells or other similar weights. There are two standard lifts in modern weightlifting: the single-movement lift from floor to extended position (the snatch), and the two-movement lift from floor to shoulder position, and from shoulders to extended position (the clean and jerk). The Philippine Weightlifting Association is the NSA that governs the sport, which is recognized by the Asian Weightlifting Federation.

Competitors are given a lot of international opportunities, with the Olympics as the primary tournament to look forward to. Other international competitions include the World Weightlifting Championships and the Asian Weightlifting Championships. Meanwhile, local competitions include the government-sponsored Philippine National Games.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. Sailors use a board usually 2.5 to 3 meters long, with displacements typically between 60 and 250 litres, powered by wind on a sail. In competitive windsurfing, the sailor with best technique and diversity wins. There is also speed racing where sailors compete on a 500m course in turns.

Windsurfing in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Windsurfing Association, led by Immanuel Cabili.

Wrestling

Wrestling is a sport in which the contestants fight each other according to various rules governing holds and usually forbidding blows with the closed fist. The principal object is to overcome the opponent either by throwing or pinning him to the ground or by causing him to submit.^[44] The Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) is duly recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) as the national federation governing and representing the sport of wrestling in the country and internationally.^[45]

Wushu

Wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. In contemporary times, wushu has become an international sport through the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), which holds the World Wushu Championships every two years.^[46] The Wushu Federation of the Philippines is the national governing body for Wushu in the Philippines. This federation is a regular member of Philippine Olympic Committee as NSA or National Sports Association. It is accredited by the International Wushu Federation.

Team Sports

The following is a list of team-based sports that are prevalent in the Philippines. All of them are supported by a National Sports Association and most have communities that host local and international competitions for those interested. The popularity of these sports vary, and thus, the number of tournaments and opportunities vary based on the size of the respective sports community.

American football

American football is a relatively new sport to the Philippines and people often confused it with both codes of rugby football. ArenaBall Philippines currently holds a 4 team competition. Since August 2013, a fifth team joined-in marking its first official expansion team in the league. Apart from that, American Football Federation of the Philippines, the organization behind the Philippine Punishers and lately Philippine Valkyries, the former's female counterpart, has been actively competing against other Asian regents such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Saipan and US Guam Confederate.

Famous Filipino players to have played in the National Football League in the United States include Eugene Amano, Tim Tebow, Roman Gabriel, Tedy Bruschi, Chris Gocong, Steve Slaton, Aaron Francisco, Jordan Dizon, and Doug Baldwin.

The Philippines also organizes a men's national team.

Association football

Association football, or more commonly known as just football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played in over 200 nations, making it the most popular sport in the world. The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal. The goalkeepers are the only players who are allowed to touch the ball with their hands, but only within their area. The team that scores the most points at the end of the match wins. If the score is tied at the end, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout depending on the format of the competition.

Football in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Football Federation, led by Mariano Araneta Jr.

The Philippine Sports Stadium, the largest football stadium in the country

The Philippine national football team or Azkals, is the national football team of the Philippines, and is controlled by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). The United Football League is the Top Flight football league in the country, the (PFF) arhe planning to launch a National Football League this 2015 or 2016, each club's will represent their respective Cities or Provinces and required to have a youth squad for the Youth League. It will also help to promote football awareness and grassroots program to the young Filipino footballers who admires to play professional football.

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each who take turns batting and fielding. The batting team attempts to score runs by hitting a ball that is thrown by the pitcher with a bat swung by the batter, then running counter-clockwise around a series of four bases: first, second, third, and home plate. A run is scored when a player advances around the bases and returns to home plate. Players on the batting team take turns hitting against the pitcher of the fielding team, which tries to prevent runs by getting hitters out in any of several ways. A player on the batting team who reaches a base safely can later attempt to advance to subsequent bases during teammates' turns batting, such as on a hit or by other means. The teams switch between batting and fielding whenever the fielding team records three outs. One turn batting for both teams, beginning with the visiting team, constitutes an inning. A game comprises nine innings, and the team with the greater number of runs at the end of the game wins. Baseball is the only major team sport in America with no game clock, although almost all games end in the ninth inning.

The NSA for baseball in the Philippines is the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA).

The Philippine national baseball team is ranked 22nd on the IBAF World Rankings, and after the WBC Qualification tournament held at Taiwan in 2013, baseball in the Philippines is gradually gaining popularity.

Basketball

A PBA basketball game at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Basketball is played by two teams of five players each on the rectangular court. The objective of the game is to shoot a ball through a hoop which is attached to a backboard at each end of the court. It involves multiple techniques in handling the ball such as dribbling, shooting, passing and rebounding. It is one of the most popular and widely viewed sport globally. In the Phlippines, Basketball is the most popular sport and is played on both amateur and professional levels.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (Basketball Federation of the Philippines) or SBP is the national sport association of basketball in the Philippines. It was formed after the merging of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and Pilipinas Basketball (PB) in 2006. The SBP has programs for men’s and women’s national teams, men’s and women’s under 18/19 youth squad and men’s under 16/17 youth squad. It also currently organizes the Philippine Collegiate Championship and 3x3 Qualifying Championships.

Dragon Boat Racing

A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft. They are the basis of the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing, a water sport with has its roots in an ancient folk ritual of contending villagers, which has been held for over 2000 years throughout southern China. The crew of a standard dragon boat is typically 22, with 20 paddlers facing towards the bow of the boat, 1 drummer or caller at the bow facing the paddlers, and 1 sweep (a steerer) standing at the rear of the boat. Modern dragon boat racing is organised at an international level by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).

Dragon Boat racing in the Philippines is governed by the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation. The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is one of the founding members of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)^[47] and recognized by the IDBF as the specific Governing Body for Dragon Boating in the Philippines. The PDBF is headed by Marcia Cristobal.

Equestrian

Equestrian Sports are sports that use horses as a main part of the sport. This usually takes the form of the rider being on the horse's back, or the horses pulling some sort of horse-drawn vehicle. more often known as riding, horseback riding(American English) or horse riding (British English)[2] referring to the skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses

The Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) is the national governing body for equestrian sports in the Philippines. It is currently registered under the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (French: Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sports.

Handball

Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outfield players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes, and the team that scores more goals wins. Modern handball is played on a court 40 by 20 meters (131 by 66 ft), with a goal in the center of each end. The goals are surrounded by a 6-meter zone where only the defending goalkeeper is allowed; goals must be scored by throwing the ball from outside the zone or while "jumping" into it. The Philippine Handball Federation is the national governing body for Handball in the Philippines and is a voting member of the Philippine Olympic Committee since 2011. It is accredited by the International Handball Federation.

Rowing

A rowing sport is based on propelling a boat (racing shell) on water using two oars. This can be recreational - where the technique of rowing focused on or competitive - where the athletes race against each other. There are many different categories of boat classed in which athletes compete, depending on the number of people inside the boat (shell).

The Philippine Rowing Association is the national governing body for Rowing in the Philippines. It is accredited by the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) or International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for the sport of Rowing in the world.

Rugby Football

Rugby football is a team game played with an oval ball that may be kicked, passed, and carried until it reaches the opponents' goal line. The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the official NSA of the sport, whose national team have been given christened as the "Volcanoes." They have placed as high as 51st^[48] in the World Rugby Rankings, a system organized by the World Rugby. The Philippines have yet to compete in the Rugby World Cup, but have consistently performed well in Asian-based qualifier tournaments such as the ARFU Asian Rugby Series and the Asia Rugby Championship.

The PRFU hosts a number of tournaments, festivals, and invitationals aimed at generating interest among the youth.^[49]

Rugby league

Rugby league is a relatively unknown sport in the Philippines and is often mistaken for rugby union and even American football but is growing rapidly since its inception in 2012. The Philippines National Rugby League are the governing body and are responsible for the growth of rugby league in the Philippines. The sport was introduced to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academys by Australian expats.^[50][51] Clubs have also been established by Papua New Guinean expats and students (where rugby league is their national sport).^[52][53][54]

The national team are known as the Tamaraws and represents the country in international rugby league competition.

Rugby union

A rugby union match between the national teams of the Philippines vs Iran (A lineout)

The Philippine Rugby Football Union was founded in 1998 and is the governing body of rugby union in the Philippines. There are currently around 12 schools playing rugby union in the Philippines and 10 teams that compete in regular competition. The national team is known as the Volcanoes and competes in the Asian 5 Nations and the Asian Seven Series.

Sepak Takraw

Sepak Takraw is a sport the originating from Southeast Asia that uses the two competing teams’ feet, knees, chests, and heads to touch the ball as opposed to volleyball. It also uses a ball that sources its material from palms. This ball is called a rattan ball. The sport in the Philippines is regulated by the Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association the organization is a member of the International Sepaktakraw Federation, the governing body of the world for the sport of Sepak takraw.

Softball

Softball is a variant of baseball such that it uses a bigger ball and is played in a smaller field. It is also sometimes called ladies’ baseball. The Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) is the national governing body for Softball in the Philippines. It currently manages the men’s and women’s national softball teams (the Blu Boys and Blu Girls). It is also accredited by the International Softball Federation (ISF) is the international governing body for the sports of softball.

Both the Blu Boys and Blu Girls have competed in the ISF Men’s Softball World Championship and Women’s Softball World Championship on numerous occasions but both have yet to secure a podium finish. Among the other international competitions they have participated in are the Asian Games and 2015 SEA games.

Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey is a sport wherein two teams attempt to maneuver a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into each other's goal. The sport is governed by the Philippine Underwater Hockey Confederation (PUHC), an NSA affiliated with the World Underwater Federation. There are currently three organized clubs under the PUHC: Polo Puck Pirates Underwater Hockey Club, the Puerto Princesa Proud Peacocks, and the UB Seals.

Most of its competitors look internationally for organized play, with its national team representing the country in tournaments such as the CMAS Underwater Hockey Worlds^[55] and the Asian Underwater Hockey meet.^[56]

Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport played using a large ball that is hit by hand over a high net, the aim being to score points by making the ball reach the ground on the opponent's side of the court. The NSA affiliated with the sport is called the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas. The sport currently enjoys immense popularity^[57] primarily due to its growing fan base in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association amateur tournaments.

Internationally, competitors are given the opportunity to represent the country in tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games as well as the Olympics.

The sport has also seen the development of semi-professional leagues such as the Philippine Super Liga and the Shakey's V-League.

Corruption and mismanagement

Cases of graft and corruption are also persists in the Philippine sports industry. Graham Lim, a former secretary general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, a former POC-recognized national federation for basketball, said in a The Manila Times article that politics and monopoly in Philippine sports started when the present leaders, including Peping Cojuangco, the current Philippine Olympic Committee president and his golfer-friend Richie Garcia, the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, took over the control of the sporting sector in 2005 that made Philippine athletes to suffer decline and deterioration on their high-caliber quality due to corruption and politicking.^[58] In 2009, Lim arrested^[59] and later declared a "undesirable alien" by the Department of Justice due to countless deportation cases, in connection with his questionable citizenship, said that the deportation order is issued because the pressure pushed by his arch-rivals Manny V. Pangilinan, the head of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the later-recognized NSA for basketball and Cojuangco.

Lim also exposed a top government official, through a deputy has asked 6 million pesos to settle the case, also he claims that several NSAs (National Sports Associations) are headed by some people who have "toe the line" to Cojuangco and anyone who do not follow his orders would be dismissed "by hook or by crook".^[58] An NSA also questioned the appointment of Cojuangco's daughter Mikee as the representative of the Philippines in the International Olympic Committee without any caution. Former Senator Nikki Coseteng also noted that the suffrage of the athletes was emerged due to lack of foreign exposures and depleted training program as a result on sports bodies' insufficient budget and incompetent sports officials.^[60]

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the former Table Tennis Association of the Philippines president filed a graft and corruption case against Cojuangco and Garcia in 2012 due to issuance of checks and releasing of funds of PSC to the group of Ting Ledesma who have claimed as TATAP officials despite a court case filed by Manila Regional Title Court on the legitimacy of TATAP officials.^[61]

A column by Jarius Bondoc in the Philippine Star dated March 2, 2016, reported that more than 1 billion pesos of earnings from casinos that supposed to fund the sports development program of the PSC by the First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation, have been diverted into the account of former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima from 2012 to 2015.^[62]

In March 2015, Edgardo Cantada, brother of prominent broadcaster Joe Cantada and president of the now-unrecognized by the POC, Philippine Volleyball Federation, also questioned Cojuangco on the removal of the body into the local olympic commission, and replaced by another formed NSA by Cojuangco, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas. Cantada pointed three reasons that POC is under dictatorship: worsening campaign for the national teams in international tourneys, including the Southeast Asian Games, NSAs in turmoil against POC are involved and the negligence and corruption issues between Cojuangco's favorite national sports associations.^[63]

See also

• Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games
• Project Gintong Alay
• POC-PSC Philippine National Games
• Palarong Pambansa
• Batang Pinoy
• Bodybuilding in the Philippines
• Horseracing in the Philippines
• Volleyball in the Philippines

Notes

References

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External links

• Most Memorable Dates in Philippine Sports
• Philippine Sports Commission - National Sports Associations
• Sports Philippines - Sports News, Updates, and Stories
• Philippine National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
• The Philippine Sailing Association
• International Association For Disabled Sailing
• Baseball Philippines
• Philippine Ultimate Association