11 Batang Pinoy standouts off to London for 2-week sports program

Batang Pinoy's 11 standout athletes will get the chance of a lifetime when they are set to go to the 2012 London Olympics as part of a two-week summer program. The scholarship grant—a first ever and certainly not the last, as stressed by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose CojuangcoJr.—provided them was courtesy of the British Council Philippines and the British Embassy in Manila in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and various public and private donors. The 11 Filipino youngsters will attend a two-week summer school at the St. Bete's International School from July 27 to August 11—the same stretch when London becomes the only city to host the Olympic Games for the third time.   Bound for the Summer Games are boxer Roberto Jalnaiz, triathlete Gabrielle Allen Santiago, taekwondo jin Irene Therese Bermejo, swimmer Ariana Caraos Herranz, judoka Floyd Derek Rillera, badminton netters John Edgar Reyes and Joella Geva De Vera, athletics' Gary Santiago and Mary Anthony Diesto, archer Bianca Cristina Gotuaco, and weightlifter John Kyle Macrohon. They were all chosen based on their exceptional, multi-gold performance in last year's national championship of the Batang Pinoy in Naga City. "We would like to thank the POC and the others involved for putting together this program that combines sports and education," said British Ambassador to the country Stephen Lillie, during the formal presentation of the Filipino young scholars. The Filipino athletes will be taught by qualified teachers while staying in a traditional English boarding school. They will also get the chance to meet other delegates and go to numerous excursions, including watching the scheduled basketball, volleyball, and handball games of the 2012 Summer Games. Three-fourths of the expenses will be shouldered by the British Embassy, while the rest will be covered by various private sponsors. "Excited na po. Bihira po kasing dumating ang ganitong pagkakataon lalo na sa ganitong edad namin,” said Jalnaiz, son of 1990 Beijing Asian Games gold medalist Roberto, speaking on behalf of the young group, accompanied by their parents during the official launch. — JVP, GMA News