Over 300 bets to strut stuff in Manila Swim Meet

From left: MASCO Chief Dale Evangelista, Meiji See (Segment Head, Pedia Multivitamins), Anita Lim (brand manager for Growee) and organizer Darren Evangelista.

MANILA, Philippines — More than 300 young athletes from 27 teams are set to showcase their talents in the upcoming Growee-Manila Swim Meet on Saturday, March 21, at the Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.

Participants will come from various public and private schools, as well as established swimming clubs from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including Laguna, Batangas, and Lucena.

According to Yingfa Pilipinas president and head organizer Darren Evangelista, the tournament aims to strengthen grassroots development in swimming, particularly in the age-group and junior levels. The competition forms part of the ongoing initiative of the Manila Sports Council (MASCO) to elevate the standard of the local swimming scene.

“This swim meet is part of MASCO’s relentless campaign to uplift swimming development at the grassroots level. It is open to everyone, and as of now, we already have 27 confirmed teams coming from as far as Laguna, Batangas, and Lucena,” Evangelista said during the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) "Usapang Sports" forum.

“We are also thankful and grateful to those supporting us, especially Unilab Laboratories and Growee vitamins. With the help and support of the Philippine Sports Commission and MASCO, we are able to address the needs of our young swimmers,” he added.

“A total of 70 Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOS) awards will be given.”

Medals and trophies will be contested across various categories, including Class A, B, and C divisions from 6-under up to 17-and-over, as well as the novice category. A total of 70 Most Outstanding Swimmers (MOS) awards will be handed out to top performers.

Meanwhile, Growee Brand Manager Anita Lim expressed enthusiasm over the partnership, noting that it aligns with the company’s advocacy of promoting children’s health and proper development.

“We’re hoping to make this partnership not just for one event, but for the long term. Growee is a partner in children’s growth and development, and partnering with the Manila Meet will further boost our program. During the tournament, we will have a booth where we will distribute Growee vitamins and other healthy products,” Lim said.

Meiji See, Segment Head for Pedia Multivitamins, also emphasized the importance of sports in promoting a healthy lifestyle and sustainability in youth-centered programs.

“We see sports as a way to promote sustainability in our programs, encouraging a healthy lifestyle while strengthening our initiatives for children’s health and growth,” See said.

For his part, MASCO Chief Dale Evangelista invited the swimming community to support the Manila Team, which will compete in the eight-team Manila Water Polo International Championships from March 25-28 at the same venue.

“Eight years ago, we already started developing these teams. This tournament will serve as their chance to prove their worth and skills, and at the same time, a stepping stone toward making it to the national team,” said Evangelista, a former member of the Philippine team that won the silver medal in water polo at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

Teams from Hong Kong and Singapore are also expected to compete in the water polo tournament, raising the level of competition for local athletes. (Pool story)