More than 18,000 young Ilonggos have taken part in the city’s sports development program over the past year, according to Mayor Raisa Treñas.
In a Facebook post, Treñas said that from August 2025 to June 2026, a total of 18,323 children and youth enrolled in various sports activities organized by the city government.
She said Iloilo City also conducted 85 sports programs, leagues and tournaments, along with 1,397 regular training sessions, to help young athletes discover and develop their talents.
Treñas said the city will continue expanding opportunities for the youth through sports, stressing that athletic activities teach more than just winning competitions.
“[N]agapati gid ako nga ang sports wala lang nagatudlo kon paano magdaog. Ginatudluan man sini ang aton mga kabataan kon paano magbangon pagkatapos sang kapierdihan, magrespeto, magbinuligay, kag magpadayon bisan mabudlay,” she said.
(Sports teach our children how to recover from defeat, respect others, work as a team, and keep going even when life gets difficult.)
The mayor added that while medals are worth celebrating, the values and discipline learned through sports are even more important because these help shape the character of the city’s young people as they prepare for their future.IMT
