SPIRITUAL LEADER APOLLO QUIBOLOY LAUNCHES 'REVOLUTION FOR EXCELENCE'
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 May 2014
In what could be a big boost to Philippine sports, influential Filipino spiritual leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has launched what he calls the "Revolution for Excellence" aimed at supporting young and poor Filipino athletes.
In a press conference in the sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City Tuesday last week, Pastor Quiboloy formally announced the formation of a sports management group, the Sonshine Sports Management headed by lawyer Binggay Dureza-Aldevera, which will handle and support both amateur and professional athletes in the country.
Sonshine Sports Management will initially undertake a development program in both amateur and professional boxing with the aim of producing amateur boxers who could represent the country in international competitions and professional fighters who could win honors for the Philippines.
"Pastor Quiboloy has always been concerned about the plight of the Filipino athletes and dreamed that one day he will be able to help these poor and struggling boys and girls attain fame and glory for themselves," said Engr. Nelida Lizada, head of the Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI), a cable TV outfit owned and operated by the KJC.
The SMNI Channel 39 will have a major role in Pastor Quiboloy's advocacy for sports excellence. Starting August, the Cable TV Channel which has largely carried religious programs of the KJC,will allocate airtime for both sports and agriculture.
"The Pastor's support for sports is not just about his love for sports. This is part of his ministry where he espouses the Spiritual Revolution, the Intellectual Revolution and the Revolution for Excellence," said Sonshine Sports Management President Atty. Dureza-Aldevera.
During the launching of the new sports management group., Pastor Quiboloy announced that he was "adopting" initially six professional boxers belonging to the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato, including reigning IBO World Superflyweight champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong of M'lang.
"We will support these boxers and many others who will come to us later," Pastor Quiboloy said even as he explained that his support for sports will not only be in boxing.
Next week, in Los Angeles where Pastor Quiboloy will be based for two months for his evangelical missions in North America, he will meet with Fil-Am golf pro David Guinoo-Heinen who owns the Kaizen Golf Academy in Long Beach.
Heinen will present to Pastor Quiboloy a golf training program for Filipino youngsters with the aim of producing Filipino golfers who could compete in the PGA and LPGA golf tours in the US "in 5 to 10 years from now."
Heinen, who was in the country two weeks ago, established golf schools for junior golfers in the cities of Davao and Cebu.
Pastor Quiboloy's Jose Maria College has already produced outstanding basketball and volleyball players.
The JMC Kings is one of the strongest college basketball teams while volleyball players from the Jose Maria College are behind the powerhouse Davao City Agilas.
On June 28, Sonshine Sports Management will stage its first professional boxing event in Davao City which will feature young and upcoming fighters from Mindanao.
Boxing men in Mindanao, especially Davao City and General Santos City have expressed happiness over the involvement of the influential spiritual leader in sports, especially boxing.
"This is what we have been waiting for, a support from somebody like Pastor Quiboloy who could help us stage big fights," said Gen. Santos City-based boxing manager Jim Claude Mananquil.
"Now, Filipino boxers will no longer beg for fights abroad and will not be at the mercy of foreign promoters," he said.
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