ORIENTEERING Philippines will hold the first Philippine Orienteering Open Competition on Sunday at Mapua University in Intramuros, Manila.

Project Director Abigael Vanessa Arquiza-Boncina and Mapua Athletic Director Melchor Posadas Divina are inviting universities and colleges and several sports clubs in the one-day tournament organized by the Fedeartion of School Sports Athletic Association of the Philippines (FESSAP), headed by Edwin Fabro.

Arquiza-Boncina, a Filipina-Slovenian and well known orienteerer in Europe, is excited in organizing orienteering in the Philippines.

“It’s a big honor for being chosen to lead in organizing prienteering here in the Philippines, with the help of the people behind FESSAP,” said Arquiza-Boncina, a gold medalist in Slovenia National Competition Forest Relay category.

Arquiza-Boncina also thanked Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary-general Graham Lim for inviting and encouraging her to introduce orienteering in the Philippines.

She also thanked his loving and very supportive husband Igor Boncina for helping her in introducing orienteering.

“Orienteering is a competitive sports in which participants find their way to various check points set across rough country, forest and city using a map and compass.

This sports is about navigation and chosing a direction,” said Arquiza-Boncina.

Their are different types of orienteering: Mountain Biking, Ski Orienteering, Canoe Orienteering, Cross Country and others.

But the usual competition is the Foot Orienteering.

The tournament is expected to be participated by several student from Mapua, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Dela Salle University – Dasmarinas, New Era University, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, Philippine College of Criminolgy and Bataan Peninsula State University.

Cecille Sarmiento, Antonio Quiza Sr, Joseph Sy, Allan Soria, Romulo Raytos and Albert Andaya Jr. compose the Orienteering Philippines commitees.

The first Philippine Orienteering Open is supported by Philippine Airlines, Healthy Options, Baker’s Fair, Seascape Village, Bestank, Kelme Sports Apparel and PAGCOR. AA