Robin Padilla to use popularity for Muay Thai

Action star Robin Padilla intends to use his popularity and influence to promote Muay Thai, a martial art that gets part of its name from its country of origin. Padilla, who is now the chairman of Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP), said at Tuesday's Philippine Sports Association Forum at Pantalan Restaurant in Manila, that he would use a television program to develop awareness for the sport. "Sa Muay, hindi kailangan ng taas o laki ng katawan. Dito mas kailangan ang tapang at bilis na siyang katangian ng mga Pilipino. Kung maisasama nga ito saOlympicsay naniniwala akong dito magmumula ang kauna-unahang ginto ng Pilipinas (In Muay, you don't have to tall or have a big body. What you need more are courage and speed, traits that Filipinos have. If the sport would be included in the Olympics, it would bring gold medals for the Philippines)," Padilla, who was with MAP president Robert Valdez, said. Filipino are not exactly neophytes in Muay: In the 2005 Southeat Asian Games held in the Philippines, the RP team won three gold medals, the same number of medals the Thai team bagged. And gold champion Brent Velasco is a Filipino. Because of these successes, MAP intends to pursue a grassroots program, wich would include a tournament during the Philippine Olympic Festival and four regional championships. And currently, MAP is preparing the national team that will vie for honors in the upcoming 2007 World Championship, the Asian Indoor Games, and the Bangkok SEA Games. "Naniniwala kami na sa mga inilinyang programa ng MAP ay lalong darami ang mga makukuhang manlalaro upang mapagpilian sa malalaking kompetisyon at maipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng karangalan ng Muay sa bansa (We believe that the MAP programs we've lined up would attract more players to choose from in a big competition, and Muay will continue to bring honor to the country)," Valdez said. - GMANews.TV