Pinoys in Malaysia host 24th Southeast Asia bowling meet

Southeast Asia-based Filipinos bonded and played in the recently concluded 24th Southeast Asia Overseas Filipino Bowlers (SEAOFB) Invitational Bowling Tournament in Johor Bahru in Malaysia. The Filipino Sports, Welfare and Community of Johor (FSWCJ) organized the tournament attended by 30 teams composed of 99 Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) bowlers. Bowling teams in the tournament came from Filipino associations in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. In 2000, a group of OFWs in Johor Bahru started a friendly bowling game seeking to establish a network with other OFW groups through sports. "The humble beginnings have grown from a friendly game into an invitational tournament that reached across other OFWs in the ASEAN region," the DFA said. Winners FSWCJ (led by Engr. Roberto Baylocon), FBAM in Kuala Lumpur (led by Willy Ravara), Filipino Bowling Club of Brunei Darussalam (FBCB, led by Rhoda Quiambao), PSRC (led by Lito Azcaraga) and Filcomin Bowling Club in Jakarta (FBA, led by Butch Frondoza were the participating teams. The Pinoy Sports and Recreation Club (PSRC) in Singapore headed by Azcaraga won the Challenge Cup to claim the overall title. PSRC topped five of the eight categories, including the team event, all events, men's graded master event, graded "O" master event and grand slam event. Winning the top awards in the singles men, singles women and ladies master event were bowlers from the host FSWCJ and the Filipino Bowlers Association in Malaysia (FBAM) based in Kuala Lumpur. Special Awards were given to Ajun Rosales of PSRC as Most Valuable Player (Men's category); Estela dela Cruz of FBAM as Most Valuable Player (Women's category); Philip Joguilon of FSWCJ for High Game (Scratch - Men); and Weena Galope for High Game (Scratch - Women). FSWCJ acting president Engr. Robert Baylocon said it took FSWCJ two months to prepare for the hosting of the tournament. He expressed his appreciation to the members of the FSWCJ for their support and cooperation, the sponsors for their generosity and the players for their sportsmanship. For his part, Embassy Charge d' Affaires Renato Villa congratulated the organizers and players for the success of the tournament. Villa added the tournament renewed friendships among OFWs across the ASEAN region through sports. He also updated the more than 150 guests at the dinner of the Embassy consular services, including the forthcoming continuing registration of the overseas absentee voters (OAV) for the 2013 Senatorial and Party-List Elections that will start on October 31 and the mandatory membership of OFWs to the Pag-Ibig Fund. At the end of the awarding ceremony, Felix Gasang of the FSWCJ turned over the tournament key to the Filipino Bowling Club of Brunei Darussalam (FBCB) led by Rhoda Quiambao, which will be the next host of the tournament in Brunei Darussalam on January 23 and 24 in 2012. - JVP, GMA News