Child participant with Kapuso actor Rocco Nacino

Around 300 blind and visually impaired student-athletes from 43 elementary, Special Education and high schools from the National Capital Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4-A participated in the 11th Visually Impaired Sports and Training Advocacy (VISTA) Games recently held at the Marikina Sports Center.   It was organized by Parent Advocates of Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC) as an avenue where these children are honed of their sports prowess, build sportsmanship and camaraderie among and between themselves.

These children competed in various sports events that include track and field, swimming, adaptive table tennis, chess, goalball, and other fun games. The games were officiated in by technical officials from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics.   

Kapuso actor Rocco Nacino supported the sports event.   Also present during the event were Mr. Ruben Torres, President of PAVIC, Mr. Gil Flores, Head of Marikina Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Police Director Eliseo Dela Paz (Ret.), Chairman of 2019 VISTA Games, Ms. Kathy Diza of the Department of Education, and Ms. Maripres Pascua, Dean of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-College of Human Kinetics.

Blind students participated in the different sporting events of the VISTA Games

After the Games, the organizer – PAVIC, announced the results, as follows:

For elementary level

  • 1st place – Paaralang Pag-ibig at Pag-asa, San Pablo City, Laguna (Champion for three consecutive years)
  • 2nd place– Philippine National School for the Blind, Pasay City
  • 3rd place– Angeles City SPED Center, Angeles City

For high school level

  • 1st place – Quirino High School, Quezon City, Metro Manila
  • 2nd place – Arellano University -A. Mabini High School, Manila
  • 3rd place – City of Batac National High School, Poblacion, Ilocos Norte

In his closing message, Mr. Torres acknowledged and thanked the support of its partners and major sponsors to make this event a success.  These sponsors include the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Department of Education (DepEd), Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), PNP-NCRPO, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPFI), PUP, SM Cares, Perkins International, Jollibee Foods Corp., and the City Government of Marikina, among others. ###