At A Glance
- Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino led on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Iloilo City the launch of the country's first Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games.

Senator Francis Tolentino (Senate PRIB)
Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino led on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Iloilo City the launch of the country’s first Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games.
The first leg of the ROTC Games—or the "Visayas Leg"—will be hosted by the West Visayas State University together with the Iloilo City Government, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air-force of Region 6.
In his weekly radio program on DZRH, Tolentino, who is the honorary chairman of the games, said Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets will participate in the athletic competitions which include basketball, volleyball, boxing, kickboxing, arnis, athletics, and e-sports.
Delegates from Regions 6, 7, and 8 will be competing in different sport events from Aug. 13 to 19, 2023, said Senator Tolentino, who conceptualized the event together with the Department of National Defense (DND), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Surprised by the enthusiasm and excitement of ROTC cadets upon the announcement of the games last year, Tolentino said this was a manifestation that support for the ROTC was strong despite the absence of a law mandating the program.
The lawmaker said that the role of military training in sports was exemplified by athletes who won in athletic competitions in Asia and the Olympics, such as Hidilyn Diaz, Carlo Paalam, Eumir Marcial, and other military members who became elite athletes.
Contrary to misconceptions, the senator emphasized that ROTC is “not confined to the mechanical and physical aspects of the program", stressing that ROTC builds character, discipline and readiness to respond to concerns such as disasters, climate change, and food security.
Once the Visayas Leg concludes, Senator Tolentino said the Mindanao Leg of the ROTC games would be held in Zamboanga City from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, while the Luzon Leg would be held in Cavite and in Metro Manila from Oct. 8 to 14.
The ROTC Games’ national championship will then be held in Pasig City and Manila City from Oct. 22 to 27.