The Phillipine’s Special Olympics team came through with solid performances on the Golden Bowl Lanes at Labuan, Malaysia, bagging 8 golds, 6 silvers and one bronze medal in the 8th Special Olympics Invitational Ten Pin Bowling Competition.

The Special Olympics Federal Teritory of Labuan hosted for the second time the 8th Ten Pin Invitational Bowling Competition, gathering 113 intellectually challenged individuals from the Phillipines, Macau, Sibu, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort & host town Labuan.

Eight Special athletes from S.O Manila and S.O Bacolod and three officials and four family escorts represented the RP delegation.

The Special Olympics is an International Humanitarian movement created by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to help intellectually challenged individuals achieve their potentials through organized year-round program of sports training, athletic competition & recreation, says National Executive Director, Alex Bapst.

For her part Cristy Canizares, head of the delegation & coach of the Philippine team, says Special Olympics fosters camaraderie, builds self-confidence and teaches the value of sportsmanship. As for high game winner, Bryan Robles he enjoys participating in the Special Olympics tournament because he meets many friends with other special olympics athletes & volunteers and for Anton Silos, Special Olympic fulfills his dreams.

Anton Silos scored (341) anchored the Special athletes tenpin bowling squad romp by winning the gred for the male category, Division 1 with Bryan Robles (328), Brian Galang (249) and Mark Inductivo (239).

For the mixed team open event, John Rillo (333), Rafael Esmores (210), Theresa Cayao (276) and Dea Mie Reyes (209) placed silver from the Special Olympics Bacolod Chapter.

Anton Silos bagged the gold with (325) pinfalls in the singles event and over all awardee for the highest  pinfall of 4 games in the male category while Mark Inductivo (268), Reyes (272) & Cayao (200) pocketed gold in their respective division during their 2 game series.

The silver medalist were John Rillo (307), Rafael Esmores (268) in various division of their single events, Galang (268) won a bronze medal in the single male category age 12-17, Division 1 and Brian Robles was a runner up in the single event.

The bowling competition run from December 5 to 6. The event was officially closed by YB Datuk Hj Yussuf, member of the parliament for W.P Labuan at the closing dinner.

The participation of the Team Phillipines was supported by La Prima Pasta for the official outfit of S.O. Phillipines and S.O Bacolod Chapter team was supported by the city government of Bacolod.

1. Helping special athletes compete on a level playing field. EAT BULAGA: The female factor … By Angie V. Salanio, Gani Zulueta and Cristy Canizares-Gacuma … www.manilastandardtoday.com
2. Angie V. Salanio and Cristina Canizares- Gacuma, Roland Roldan and Nice Marcial (Photo) Parents of children diagnosed with tellectual disabilities can take … www.mb.com.ph
3. Ng, Irene Silos and Cristy Gacuma, Special Olympics Philippines bowling coach, … In the Philippines, Cristy Canizares-Gacuma, Special Olympics Philippines … www.malaya.com.ph
4. These are the three words that describe the Philippine Tatler, according to … By Angie V. Salanio, Gani Zulueta and Cristy Canizares-Gacuma … www.manilastandardtoday.com
5. By: Angie V. Salanio, Gani Zulueta and Cristy Canizares-Gacuma | Manila Standard … Alex Babst, national executive director; and Cristina Canizares-Gacuma, athletes’ … www.yehey.com

2007 Special Olympics Bowling Athletes Reaps Gold
Team Philippines once again showed to the world what it takes to become sports champions.

2006 Special Olympics Shanghai Invitational Games (October 12-20, 2006)
Garnered 3 gold’s, 2 silvers, 2 bronze and five 4th places.

2005 Singapore Special Olympics Invitational Games
Won 7 individual gold medals and 7 silvers and 1 bronze medal.

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Dublin, Ireland
Won 7 gold medals, 1 silver, 2 bronze and 3 fourth place finishers in the singles, doubles and team events.

2002 Labuan, Malaysia 4th Asian Special Olympic Games
9 athletes won for the country 3 golds (1 male team event; 2 female singles event) and 9 bronze medals (1 mixed team, 1 singles female event, 6 singles male and 1 team event).

SPECIAL ATHLETES BOWLING ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (SPABA), is an organization devoted to promoting the sport of tenpin bowling among special athletes and providing year-round training, coaching, development and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

SPABA has grown to be a social group, not only in practicing and competing as a team, but the athletes contribute their ideas in planning activities such as out-of-town trips, inter-chapter or provincial competitions, bowling nights, going to a resort or to the  movies, potluck get-togethers, dinners etc.  Meanwhile, with the full support of the athletes’ parents , their coaches,and teachers, FCEII-Teacher-Mom Special School is also instrumental as SPABA’s partner in establishing, maintaining and making these programs available. Likewise, since the athletes are also participating in Special Olympics, this improves their physical fitness and motor skills, heightens self-confidence, provides a more positive self-image and offers friendships, social interaction and increased family support.

Unified Sports is a program that combines special athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (as partners) of similar ability level, age, gender on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports bowling, bowlers are composed of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.( see family tournament below) The program expands sports opportunities for athletes seeking new challenges, and it dramatically increases inclusion.

SPABA holds special fundraising events that help support your local Special Athletes bowling program. Check out cool ways to help out SPECIAL ATHLETES BOWLING ASSOCIATION (SPABA). Invite us to a local or international tournament and sponsor the program through in-kind products or services, or by cash donation and support the team of Special Athletes Heroes and experience “the fun that lasts”  to quote Special Olympics Chairman Dr. Timothy Shriver.

If you have any questions or if you would like to become a sponsor of a fundraising event, please contact our office at (632) 8993678 or +63917-8377092 or contact us at spaba.phil@gmail.com