Photo courtesy Martyn Willes

The training of caving guides in San Isidro, Davao del Norte, is well underway ahead of the 10th National Caving Congress, Davao, in April. Experienced trekkers and caving / spelunking enthusiasts from Barangay Dacudao, San Isidro, last weekend had their caving guide skills honed under a training program initiated jointly by the: Davao Speleological Society, the Davao del Norte Provincial Tourism and with financial support from the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) Region XI.

Next weekend, further caving guide training (in advance of the National Caving Congress, Davao) will be offered for caving / spelunking enthusiasts in Barangay Igangon, San Isidro.

Image courtesy John Smart

The Manila 10s International Rugby Tournament 2010 at the Nomad Sports Club is the biggest 10-a-side rugby tournament in Asia. Every year the Manila 10s attracts rugby teams & thousands of spectators from around the World to the Nomad Sports Club in Merville Park, Paranaque. If you are a rugby fan then you must not miss this event.

If you can’t make it to the event then you can watch the Manila 10s live on the Internet using the MyCam-Asia “Big Screen” view – it is not quite like being there but it is better than missing the event completely.

Photo courtesy Oasis Park Hotel

The 36th Oasis Park Golf Classic will be teeing off this 16-20 November, 2009. Tourists, expats, businessmen and local golf enthusiasts are all invited to be part of this exciting golf event.

The Philippines is home to some of the best golf courses in Asia. This is why one of the top tourist attractions in the Philippines is the game of golf. Every year, the Oasis Park Hotel hosts a golf classic competition that tours its participants to FIVE amazing Manila golf courses over FIVE days!

The 1st Gov. Amor Deloso Darts Cup is the first National Darts Association Philippines (NDAP) dart championship to be held in Zambales, at Punta De Uian Beach Resort, Pundaquit. The darts competition is open to individuals and teams from anywhere in the Philippines, and foreign players/tourists are most welcome but be prepared for some stiff competition – the current best darts player in the Philippines is a teenage girl from Zambales; top prize will be Php10,000.

Photo courtesy Philippine Rugby Football Union

The Fat Boy 10s Rugby Tournament in Clark Field, Angeles City, (4-5 September 2009) is the fun rugby competition in the Philippines for the larger than life rugby players who are (mostly) past their sell-by date. Rugby stars of yesteryear, from around the World, make guest appearances to thrill the crowds with their skills and sign autographs. This year you can expect to see: Doddie Weir, legendary Scottish International and Joe Shaw, England and Newcastle Falcons.

Fat Boy 10s rugby is rugby union with a cause. Money raised from the rugby weekend is used to help street children find a roof over their head and healthy recreation throughout the rest of the year.

Photo courtesy Martyn Willes

UPDATED 29/7/2009

Champion of Champions Men’s Lawn Bowls Team Philippines Wins Bronze! bringing their 5-year total to 100 international medals in lawn bowls championships - the most of any Philippine Olympic Squad. Congratulations to Emman Portacio.

The 2009 Champion of Champions Lawn Bowls Competition, took place in Ayr, Scotland, and featured only Emman Portacio (playing here in the red shirt) from the Philippines’ Olympic Squad. Nomad Sports Club members and Etihad Airways sponsored Emman’s airfares and accommodation. The two-week-long Champion of Champions Lawn Bowls competition is held every year at different venues around the World.

Photo courtesy Bernadette Villaluz

UPDATED 04/07/2009

Finals match (04/07/09) full-time score: Philippines 25 - Guam 0. Although the win was a clear demonstration of the skill and stamina of the Philippine rugby team, the score line does not reflect the tenacity of the Guamanians who nevertheless came very close to scoring in the closing minutes of the game. Team Philippines now move up to Division 2 of Asian 5 Nations Rugby.

Due to a late venue change, Nomad Sports Club is now hosting the first ever Division 3 Asian 5 Nations Rugby Tournament on Saturday, 4th July. Americans also welcome!

There are large crowds expected for this first ever at Nomad Sports Club so come early to secure your spectator spot for the Asian 5 Nations Rugby Tournament and support the best of the Philippine National Rugby Team.

If you have not been to the Nomad Sports Club for a while then you will be pleased to know that you no longer run the risk of getting lost in Merville Park (just South of the airport) and missing the game. You can go direct to the Nomad Sports Club’s new entrance along Moonwalk.

The annual Veterans 7-a-side Football Tournament will be held this year at the Nomad Sports Club on 28th February and 1st March, 2009. The Veterans 7-a-side Football Tournament was originally organised to give veterans (those rendered competent through trial and experience) of all nationalities a chance to experience once again their youthful poise and listen to applause rippling around the grounds as they loft a lazy goal past a slightly too rotund goalkeeper.

Today, however, the competition is taken very seriously on the football (’ soccer ‘ to the rest of the World) field and participating veterans train for weeks before the event to maximise their chance of success for their team.

Photo courtesy Bernadette Villaluz

Manila 10s International Rugby Festival 2009 will be held at the premier international sports club in the Philippines - Nomad Sports Club, Merville Park, Parañaque City 20th - 22nd March.

2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the Manila 10s International Rugby Festival at the Nomad Sports Club, attracting competitors and spectators from all around the World to celebrate their passion for the sport of rugby or to meet thousands of old friends and make hundreds of new ones, in preparation to meet them as old friends again next year. This year, with travel and tourism incentives that make a difference, as many as 5000 spectators are expected during the three days of competition.

Photo courtesy Martyn Willes

Philippine International Cricket Sixes 2009, will be held at the Parade Ground, Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga, on 20th - 22nd February.

The Philippine International Cricket Sixes at Clark Field marks the second time this annual celebration of international cricket comes to the Philippines. Teams will arrive from almost all cricket playing nations to Clark Field and Angeles City, to enjoy a weekend of gentlemanly sports. The sound of leather on willow will echo around historic Fort Stotsenburg to much applause, the passion for victory between the wickets will be running high.