“IT takes a village to raise an athlete.”

With these inspiring words, Senator Pia S. Cayetano led top sports officials and national athletes at the groundbreaking ceremony of the future seven-storey Athletes’ Dormitory at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila last Thursday.

“As I’ve said, it takes a village to raise an athlete. I really believe that athletes can be the symbol of perseverance and success for this country,” said Sen. Cayetano

“Ito ay proyekto natin with the leadership of Philippine Sports Commission, your coaches, and my colleagues in the Senate who are supportive of this. We hope to continue to invest in sports for this country.”

A former national volleyball player and student-athlete, Sen. Cayetano has been instrumental in funding the milestone infrastructure project. As Senior Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, she has been at the forefront of advocating for more support for Filipino athletes and sports development.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Cayetano reflected on her time as a national volleyball athlete, sharing how it fueled her aspiration to make a meaningful impact on Philippine sports as a lawmaker.

The Senator highlighted the importance of building an athletes’ dorm at the RMSC– a location that is steeped in sports history. She also recalled living in the South Tower during her stint as a former national volleyball athlete.

She further emphasized the athletes’ need for better support systems and facilities, including sports psychology and mental health programs, underscoring the importance of community support in developing athletes.

Joining Sen. Pia Cayetano were Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and Commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo and Walter Francis Torres, Department of Public Works and Highways district Engineer Manny Bulusan and former long jump queen Elma Muros-Posadas.

Bachmann, for his part, emphasized the importance of the project, aligning with the agency’s mission to deliver exceptional service with a strong focus on prioritizing the well-being of athletes.

“This dormitory will serve as their second home away from their respective families while chasing to build a legacy for the Philippines,” said Bachmann

Meanwhile, two-time Olympics medalist Nesthy Petecio expressed her excitement with the athletes’ dormitory..

“Sobrang excited ako sa bagong gagawing gym, Na-excite ako para sa mga kabataan na mag aim na makarating sa Olympics kasi napakaswerte na nila ngayon,” said Petecio.