Insider Spotlight
Under BCDA's newly launched Youth Rising program, nearly 100 participants aged 12 to 17 from Bamban and Capas took part in the inaugural basketball and volleyball clinic at the National Academy of Sports on July 4, where Philippine Navy soldier-athletes led the training sessions.
According to BCDA, Youth Rising is a grassroots sports initiative that gives young people from neighboring communities access to New Clark City's world-class training facilities while fostering leadership, discipline, and teamwork.
The clinic is part of BCDA's corporate social responsibility program aimed at broadening community access to these facilities and encouraging youth development through sports.
The big picture
The state-run developer said Youth Rising reflects its vision of making New Clark City an inclusive development where surrounding communities can also benefit from public infrastructure. The program carries the theme, "New Clark City. Your Playground. Your Future."
"These facilities are not just for elite competitions but are spaces for all youths where they can experience the transformative power of sports and build their dreams. Investing in young people today helps shape stronger communities tomorrow,” BCDA President and CEO Engr. Jake Bingcang said in a statement.
“More than just a collection of buildings and infrastructure, New Clark City was always envisioned as an inclusive place where opportunities can take root," Bingcang said.
"Through the launch of the Youth Rising program at New Clark City, we want young Filipinos to experience these spaces firsthand, discover what they are capable of, and realize that facilities of this caliber are meant to serve them as well. We’re hopeful this can be the first of many more community experiences to come."
Why it matters
Participants underwent skills training, drills, and practice games with BCDA volunteers and Philippine Navy soldier-athletes.
Medical and safety professionals from the Philippine General Hospital, Camp O'Donnell Military Treatment Facility, BCDA, and the Manila Water Foundation also supported the event.
BCDA officer-in-charge senior vice president for conversion and development Engr. Mark P. Torres said the initiative demonstrates how public spaces can become platforms for youth development and nation-building.
"Ang layunin ng Youth Rising ay simple, ito ay bigyan ang ating mga kabataan ng isang positibong espasyo upang matuto, maging aktibo, magkaroon ng mga bagong kaibigan, at matuklasan ang kanilang potensyal sa pamamagitan ng sports (The goal of Youth Rising is simple: to give our young people a positive space where they can learn, stay active, make new friends, and discover their potential through sports.)," Torres said.
Torres added that sports help build character and unite communities, expressing hope that participants would leave the clinic with greater confidence to pursue their goals on and off the playing field.
What's next
BCDA said Youth Rising is the first in a series of community-based activities that seek to empower young Filipinos through sports while reinforcing New Clark City's role as a city built for people.
The initiative also supports the Marcos administration's push to strengthen grassroots sports development by expanding access to sports, recreation, and character-building opportunities for Filipino youth.
Developed as the country's first smart, green, and disaster-resilient metropolis, New Clark City has increasingly hosted national and international sporting events while broadening community access to its facilities. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
