Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members from all over the Visayas are set to converge in Cebu on November 17-18, 2014 for the inter-regional championships of INC’s multi-sports league known as the “Unity Games.”
Competing in 11 sports events ranging from ball games to track and field events are four teams representing regions 6A (Northwestern Visayas), 6B (Southwestern Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas) and 8 (Eastern Visayas).
The upcoming Unity Games in the Visayas is the last leg of its Philippine championships. Earlier this year, the North Luzon and Mindanao championships were held in Pangasinan and Cagayan de Oro City, respectively, while the South Luzon championship was held in Manila in May 2013.
Winning teams and players in the Visayas championships will qualify for the International Unity Games, in which they will be competing not only against the three other Philippine teams but also against teams from USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia, Japan, China and other international teams. The first International Unity Games will be held next year at the Philippine Arena, Philippine Sports Stadium and Philippine Sports Center in the Ciudad de Victoria, Bulacan to serve as one of the culminating activities of the INC’s centennial year celebration.
The Visayas championships this November will use the Cebu City Sports Complex for its grand opening on the afternoon of Day 1 (November 17). Basketball championships will be held at the Hoops Dome, while volleyball and baseball games at the Aznar Coliseum and Central Command playground, respectively, on Day 2. Football championship as well as that of swimming, track, tae kwon do, table tennis, and chess will also be held at the Cebu City Sports Complex on November 18. Also on that day, at Citi Green will be the tennis competitions, with badminton being held at Metro Sports.
Sports spectators can also catch an early glimpse of the teams by watching the preliminary games on November 17. Basketball playoffs will be held at the Aznar Coliseum and Hoops Dome, while the volleyball games will be staged in Kimwa Gym. Bowling will be held at the SM Bowling Lanes.
Launched in 2011, the Unity Games was conceived by INC Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, “to nurture the love of the brethren for one another and further solidify their unity” through sports. Under the supervision of the Christian Family Organizations Committee led by Brother Angelo V. Manalo, the Unity Games has grown to become the biggest multi-sport and multi-district sports league of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. From five participating districts in Metro Manila four years ago, it now counts as its participants over 100 ecclesiastical districts not just in the Philippines but also in other countries as well.
“Our Visayan brethren are very excited,” said Brother Joel San Pedro, an INC minister and a member of the INC Unity Games Committee, further noting that “many skilled athletes have emerged from the previous Unity Games and they are all eager to make it all the way to the Unity Games International Championships in 2015.”
The Iglesia Ni Cristo has also held other large activities in Cebu in recent years. On July 26- 28, 2013, the Church gathered in Metro Cebu to hold pre-centennial event at Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). The three-day event started with charitable missions, in which tens of thousands of Cebuanos were given free medical-dental services and relief goods, and were also treated to night of concerts and fireworks, and then capped-off by a special worship service and musical presentation.
Late last year, just days after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas region, the INC’s “Aid to Humanity” began sending relief goods and medical supplies to the four major parts of the region, from Camotes Island, Bantayan Island and Bogo town in northern Cebu, to Danao City in southern Cebu, and especially to the severely stricken people in Ormoc City and Tacloban City.
Last February, tens of thousands of INC brethren not only from Cebu but also in other parts of the Visayas island-group participated in the church’s record-setting and record-breaking Worldwide Walk for survivors of typhoon Yolanda. From the proceeds of such charitable event, a resettlement community has been started to be built, which contains about 1,000 housing units and a garments factory, among other sustainable livelihood projects, to help the typhoon victims.
“That the Visayas Unity Games will be held within the Centennial year of the Church is another reason for the brethren there to be happy,” said Brother Charmil Castro, an INC minister and an assistant to the CFO Coordinator. “This is a milestone year for all members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, and we are more than glad to take part in this activity which is a celebration of the Church’s unity, for the greater glory of our Almighty God.”
The Unity Games Visayas Championships on November 17-18 will be broadcast live over INC-TV (channel 49) and INC Radio (DZEM 954 kHz).