Close to 100 youths from communities surrounding New Clark City stepped onto world-class sports facilities on Saturday, July 4, as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) launched Youth Rising, a grassroots sports initiative that expands community access to sports while empowering the next generation through discipline, teamwork, and leadership.
Held at the National Academy of Sports, Youth Rising brought together participants aged 12 to 17 from neighboring municipalities Bamban and Capas for a morning of basketball and volleyball drills in a sports clinic led by top athletes from the Philippine Navy. As part of BCDA's broader Corporate Social Responsibility program, the clinic sought to make world-class sports facilities more accessible to surrounding communities.
With the message, "New Clark City. Your Playground. Your Future,” BCDA President and CEO Engr. Jake Bingcang said the initiative reflects the BCDA’s belief that cities are ultimately built for people.
“These facilities are not just for elite competitions but are spaces for all youths where they can experience the transformative power of sports and build their dreams. Investing in young people today helps shape stronger communities tomorrow. More than just a collection of buildings and infrastructure, New Clark City was always envisioned as an inclusive place where opportunities can take root," said Engr. Bingcang.
"Through the launch of the Youth Rising program at New Clark City, we want young Filipinos to experience these spaces firsthand, discover what they are capable of, and realize that facilities of this caliber are meant to serve them as well. We’re hopeful this can be the first of many more community experiences to come."
Youth participants from the communities of Capas and Bamban underwent skills training, drills, and practice games with BCDA volunteers and soldier athletes from the Philippine Navy. Joining BCDA in ensuring the safety and wellness of community youths are medical and safety professionals from the Philippine General Hospital, the Camp O'Donnell Military Treatment Facility, BCDA and the Manila Water Foundation.
Officer-in-Charge Senior Vice President for Conversion and Development Engr. Mark P. Torres said the initiative demonstrates how public spaces like New Clark City can become platforms for youth development, and ultimately, nation-building.
"Ang layunin ng Youth Rising ay simple, ito ay bigyan ang ating mga kabataan ng isang positibong espasyo upang matuto, maging aktibo, magkaroon ng mga bagong kaibigan, at matuklasan ang kanilang potensyal sa pamamagitan ng sports,” Torres said.
He emphasized that sports have a unique ability to build character and unite communities. Urging the young participants to work hard and believe in themselves, Torres expressed hope that every Filipino child who joined the sports clinic would leave with greater confidence, inspired to pursue their dreams both on and off the playing field.
The BCDA envisions New Clark City as a world-class facility where young people can develop confidence and discipline through sports.
BCDA’s CSR program, Youth Rising, reflects the Authority’s commitment to making New Clark City’s world-class sports facilities accessible not only to athletes but also to ordinary Filipino families in nearby communities. The initiative supports the Marcos administration’s push to strengthen grassroots sports development and expand opportunities for Filipino youth through greater access to sports, recreation, and character-building programs.
This year’s iteration of Youth Rising marks the first in a series of community-based activities under the campaign, which seeks to use sports as a platform for empowering the next generation while reinforcing New Clark City’s role as a city built for people.
Developed as the country's first smart, green, and disaster-resilient metropolis, New Clark City has increasingly become a venue for both national and international sporting events, with the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta held earlier this year.
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