The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is pushing to expand sports tourism in the country through the Batang Pinoy Games, which kicked off its 2025 edition in General Santos City on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

PSC said hosting national sports events like the Batang Pinoy Games in the provinces strengthens sports tourism.

“Na po-promote yung probinsya, yung city ng GenSan, buong Pilipinas. Ito ay sports tourism. Sport tourism ito ang angkla natin. This is the foundation of sports in the Philippines,” PSC Chairman, John Patrick Gregorio, said.

Gregorio added that the government will also help in establishing regional sports training centers in the provinces to train more young Filipino athletes.

The initiative aims to produce future Olympians.

“Si Pangulong Marcos sabi niya mag invest pa tayo sa sports. Gusto ko makita mga bata, from grassroots level, sa paligsahan, para mahasa natin ang antas ng paligsahan ng sports sa Pilipinas. Dream natin laging Olympics, yan ang pinaka importante and that is the story of Filipino youth, diba. Di ba it took us 96 years to win our first gold,  it took us less than 3 years to win 2 more golds, yang tatlong medalya na yan ‘pag may batang Pinoy ka, kung meron kang host tulad ng GenSan, marami yan in the next few years,” Gregorio added.

“Dito ninyo malalaman kung gaano kagaling ang mga kalaban niyo, dito ninyo mararamdan ang manalo, dito nyo  rin maramdaman ang matalo pero ang pinaka-importante sa lahat dito nag-uumpisa ang lahat. Let’s go for the gold one day. Isa sa inyo ang magiging kampeon ng mundo balang araw. Mabuhay ang batang Pilipino. Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino,” Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla also said during the opening ceremony of the Batang Pinoy Games.

Despite the rain, the Batang Pinoy Games 2025 kicked off with a colorful parade along the national highway in Barangay Calumpang leading to the Acharon Sports Complex.

Delegates from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao marched proudly to represent their regions. The crowd was thrilled as colorful confetti showered from the helicopter of eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, followed by a water cannon salute from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Pacquiao and first Filipino Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo led the torch relay and cauldron lighting, symbolizing the official start of the games.

“Mga batang Pinoy I challenge you, train harder train smarter, compete stronger, respect your coaches, and opponents, in every victory or defeat, always honor God,” Pacquiao said.

“Para sa akin at the end of the day, you have to enjoy the competition, enjoy the batang Pinoy, enjoy the moment and do their  best. Kasi nag training sila for this for LGU and for themselves,” Naranjo added.

The opening rites concluded with a grand fireworks display.

“Beautiful word class. Congratulations. Na elevate niyo ang Batang Pinoy. Mahirap tumbasan to. Nakapaganda, sana tuluy-tuloy hanggang matapos,” Gregorio said.

An estimated 25,000 delegates, including athletes, coaches, and officials, attended the event.

Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao also assured that all participants are safe and well taken care of.

“Sa atung mga atleta makaasa mo nga naa mo sa maayong kamot dinhi sa lugar namu dinhi sa GenSan. Kita ninyo bisag gabii, kadlawun nagatoyok ko sa mga billeting area para maseguro naku ang inyong seguridad,” the city mayor said.