PSC chief hails Cebu as sports tourism powerhouse

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio capped his whirlwind working visit here by branding the Queen City of the South as “the national powerhouse in sports tourism”.

Invited as guest speaker at the 40th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corporation Sports Awards at the Ayala Center Cebu last Sunday, the tireless PSC chairman also promised to help Cebu achieve what it actually started two decades ago.

PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio joins PSC commissioner Ed Hayco in presenting the award to Olympic weightlifter Elreen Ando.

PSC

“In Manila, sports tourism is new to them. In Cebu, it’s 20 years old. Cebu understood sports tourism 20 years ago and how to develop champions, how to showcase its places, its people and its culture,” he said.

“Cebu was well ahead of its time,” added the PSC chairman during the affair that honored the biggest sports achievers from Cebu for 2025 and way back.

“You (Cebu) were 20 years ahead. Even in sports tourism you were 20 years ahead,” said Gregorio.

Among those who were honored by the SAC headed by its president John Pages were Cebuanos June Mar Fajardo in basketball, Elreen Ando in weightlifting, Melvin Jerusalem in boxing, Margielyn Didal in skateboarding, Rubilen Amit in billiards and the pillars of Cebu sports — Atty. Augusto Go and Lorenzo Sy.

The PSC chairman recalled the good old days from 2000 to 2006 when as a young general manager of the 600-room Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino he helped promote sports tourism in the province.

During the glittery annual event, Gregorio said he was glad to see familiar faces in Cebu sports, particularly the sportswriters with whom he helped organize and promote sporting events in running, boxing and dancesports.

“Cebu holds a very special place in my story,” said Gregorio, a hotelier, tourism advocate, corporate executive, basketball, boxing and rowing official, and now PSC chairman — all rolled into one.

In particular, Gregorio thanked PSC commissioner and a prime mover of Cebuano sports, Edward Hayco, whose wife Eleanor was one of the awardees for dancesports.

Then Gregorio whetted the appetite of the Cebuanos, who are crazy about basketball, boxing, football, running, volleyball, dance sports, arnis, triathlon and tennis, among others.

“Maybe the Philippine Sports Commission can bring a Gilas game here especially with the presence here of your kababayan commissioner Ed Hayco we can bring a Gilas game here,” Gregorio said.

“Maybe in February for the FIBA next window. Kung gusto niyo lang naman. Gusto niyo ba ang Gilas maglaro sa Cebu? Maybe, let us first build a new tennis court In Cebu, and maybe we can bring a WTA125 event here soon so you can also watch Alex Eala in Cebu. Gusto niyo ba mapanood si (tennis superstar) Alex Eala sa Cebu?" said Gregorio, drawing cheers from his audience.

Gregorio bared that the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee under Abraham Tolentino have decided to stage the 2028 Asian Beach Games in Cebu.

“We decided that we will bring the Asian Beach Games 2028 — 45 Asian countries here to Cebu. That is our gift to the Cebuanos. That is more than 3,000 foreign athletes in more than 19 sports. They will compete here in Cebu.

“I’m sure that in the next two years the Queen City of the South will show its might as a national powerhouse in sports and tourism. It will be the centerpiece of our realization for Philippine sports — From Grassroots to Gold, From Gold to Greatness,” said the PSC chief.

As chairman of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee, a post that was recently handed him by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Gregorio has been given the go signal to promote sports tourism in the country.

“I am really pushing for sports tourism. And the future of sports tourism is rising in Cebu," he said.

Cebu, he said, is on top of the list.

“Cebu must be at the forefront of this movement. Let’s continue to collaborate closely. It will be Cebu’s gift to national renewal. And it is the PSC’s gift to Cebu. Let’s continue to make this nation smile because sports is good news,” said Gregorio.

“Coming back here I realized how much I missed Cebu," he said in his well-applauded speech.

Gregorio, with a very small entourage, arrived in Cebu at 4 p.m. Saturday and hit the ground running.

From the airport, Gregorio went to inspect a proposed venue to house the gymnastics regional training center and was welcomed by young gymnasts and a handful of officials.

From there, Gregorio graced the opening of the DanceSport Challenge 2026 at the Cebu Provincial Capital, and then sat down with the families of those who tragically lost their lives during a basketball game that was being held when the powerful earthquake struck Cebu in September last year.

PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio meets family members of the 2015 earthquake victims in Cebu.

PSC

Then the PSC chief attended a dinner at the Hayco residence which offers a majestic view of the city, and sat beside Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and other representatives of the province.

It was close to midnight by the time Gregorio was handed the key to his room at Waterfront Hotel.

The following day was just as busy as Gregorio took off after breakfast for an ocular inspection of the massive SM Arena Seaside Cebu, which builders said is a bigger, better version of the Mall of Asia Arena, one that could host FIBA events as well as other sporting events, and due for completion this June.

PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio and his staff during an ocular of the new SM Arena Seaside Cebu.

PSC

Gregorio also inspected the site of the proposed venue of the 2028 Asian Beach Games at the University of the Philippines Cebu SRP (South Road Properties), then another property beside the UP campus, the Cebu Cultural Center, which Gregorio said could be rebuilt to house the national arnis or dancesport academy.

The PSC chairman then visited the iconic Cebu Coliseum, venue of countless sporting events the province has hosted many years ago. He also met with Regan Rex King, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others representing the Cebu business sector over late lunch.

PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio meets with members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

PSC

Then it was off to the CAS-SMB Awards.

“We are here to build partnerships, to promote sports tourism. How can they say no to sports?” said Gregorio. (PSC pool story)

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