Over 400 Filipino athletes from around Alberta gathered at the Rotary Spirit Centre Saturday to participate in the Filipino Association of Westlock’s second annual sports fest.
Participants representing 10 different towns — as far south as the Edmonton-area and as far north as Peace River — descended on Westlock to partake in basketball and volleyball tournaments.
Filipino Association of Westlock president Randy Ayo said around 400 were invited, but nearly 500 attended.
He said the idea behind the tournament is to provide an outlet for Filipinos in Alberta to have some friendly competition.
“The concept of this event is to enhance the spirit of sportsmanship,” Ayo said. “Filipinos really love sports.”
Ayo said basketball and volleyball are among the most popular sports in the Philippines.
In the eight-team basketball tournament it was the Westlock team that emerged victorious.
Aside from the sports aspect Ayo said fest served as a social get-together for Filipinos.
“A lot of Filipinos are away from their families, so one way we can deal with their sadness and missing their families back home is for them to have a Filipino family here,” he said.
“They can also see some of their friends because some Filipinos here are friends from back in the Philippines and when they came to Canada they were separated.
“This is one way they can see their friends and family.”
The Westlock event is part of a circuit of Filipino sports tournaments hosted by various Filipino associations province-wide.
Ayo said the Filipino Association of Westlock plans to keep the sports days as an annual event each September, with the hope of growing it bigger each year. With 10 towns represented this year, Ayo said the goal for next year is to have 12.
