The Benguet State University administration has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines (MAP) for the athletes’ training and development of the most popular combat sports in Thailand.
BSU President Felipe Comila, together with Institute of Human Kinetics Director John Rex Bawang and MAP Secretary General Pearl Anne Managuelod, led the MOA signing recently.
Bawang said BSU will serve as a venue for training of MAP athletes especially during their preparation for upcoming national and international competitions.
The MAP athletes are members of the national team and training pool.
“MAP coaches and athletes will help us develop our local athletes and athletes within our community,” Bawang said.
He said MAP has provided the training equipment of the athletes, which will be entrusted to the university as the custodian. MAP will also give technical knowledge through their coaches and officials who will train at BSU.
In the MOA, BSU could also offer scholarship and accommodation to MAP athletes who would avail of any courses in the university.
Earlier, MAP has requested for an area within the university where it could establish a permanent training facility.
Comila said they have yet to identify an area within the university but expressed optimism on the group’s request.
“I think that is a nice move. We have to continue to train our youth because we have to realize that Cordillerans excel in combat sports,” Comila said.
Bawang said 21 MAP athletes, including 13 Cordillerans, and five coaches are training at the university since May. – Ofelia C. Empian
