27 April 2018 - The Philippine Ambassador to China attended a Sports Forum at the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CUPES) in Beijing on 26 April 2018.

Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana delivers his remarks 

The forum was hosted by the School of International Education of CUPES and the Sports Exchange Research Center of China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU).

Professor Zhong Bingshu, President of CUPES welcomed Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana and other Embassy officials to the university. In a brief meeting before the forum, he shared that CUPES offers undergraduate, masters, and PhD programs on sports-related courses, and that the university combines teaching, scientific research, coaching and training to develop topnotch athletes. During his opening remarks in the forum, Professor Zhong said he and the students looked forward to learning more about Philippine sports and the important role of sports in people-to-people exchanges.

In his remarks, Ambassador Sta. Romana noted that sports is a means for countries to engage in exchanges and that the Philippines and China currently have an MOU on sports cooperation. Ambassador Sta. Romana added that possible areas of cooperation are friendly matches or competitions, participation of one country's athletes in international competitions or sports events hosted by the other, mutual or co-training of athletes and coaches and exchanges of information or learnings in management of sports facilities and implementation of sports programs.

Minister Ivan Frank M. Olea delivered a brief presentation on sports in the Philippines, Philippine-China cooperation and Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). After the presentation Minister Olea had a brief demonstration of arnis assisted by Mr. Rhio Zablan, a Filipino arnis enthusiast and instructor based in Beijing.

Minister Ivan Frank Olea and Mr. Rhio Zablan demonstrating Filipino Martial Arts.

Professor Zhong Bingshu, President of CUPES experiencing Filipino Martial Arts

After the forum, the students, along with Professor Zhong and other officials, had a hands on experience of Filipino Martial Arts at the university's gymnasium. Mr. Zablan, assisted by some arnis trainers based in Beijing, taught the basics of Filipino Martial Arts to the participants. END.