SIARGAO Island witnessed a dynamic fusion of sports and entertainment as September rolled in at the Ang Probinsyano Party List Cup Siargao League.

Held at the Dapa Gym, the event attracted 18 basketball teams from various parts of the islands in friendly competition.

The multi-day event was a showcase of youth empowerment through sports, a key advocacy of APPL led by Representative Alfred “Apid” de los Santos.

Joining the league as a special guest was GMA Sparkle Artist Center talent Shuvee Etrata, a rising TV star and TikTok sensation known as “smilingshuvee.”

Famous for her captivating presence on social media and role in the hit GMA series, Hearts on Ice, Shuvee shares APPL’s commitment to inspiring the youth to engage in meaningful activities.

Her participation brought an added level of excitement to the event, reflecting an alignment with APPL’s sports development initiatives, which have always been aimed at channeling young people’s energy into productive outlets.

Now in its third edition, following similar tournaments in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City earlier this year, it was “Congressman Apid,” as the young players affectionately call the equally young politician, who spearheaded the Siargao leg anew.

The event was made possible with the assistance of Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Jose Francisco “Bingo” Matugas, whose support reflected his shared passion with the Rep. De los Santos for youth engagement and grassroots sports development.

They are both believing in its transformative power to build strong and healthy communities.

“The tournament is part of our continuing advocacy to promote sports among the youth, giving them an avenue to showcase their talents and encouraging them to stay away from harmful vices,” said De los Santos.

He further emphasized that the league serves as a way to unite different communities across Siargao, fostering camaraderie and teamwork.

De los Santos welcomed Shuvee into the growing number of celebrity volunteers of APPL, which already included Piolo Pascual and JM de Guzman, among the many prominent names.

Though the said stars had never imagined volunteering for a political party, they found that their ideals and hopes for the country aligned with the work being carried out by APPL.

Shuvee echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that she’s very happy to connect with a young congressman like Rep. Apid, who truly supports and empowers the youth.

“When I first heard about APPL’s projects, I was very interested and eager to get involved because they provide amazing opportunities that genuinely uplift the young people,” Shuvee said.

With Shuvee’s star power and APPL’s unwavering commitment to support the Filipino youth, the APPL Cup Siargao League wrapped up successfully as all 18 teams expressed excitement for the league’s next round in their island.

From being a popular Internet personality, Shuvee joined Sparkle GMA Artist Center. She was born and raised in Bantayan Island, Cebu City.

The budding star has amassed millions of followers on her social media platform as she continues to soar in popularity.

Twenty-two-year old Shuvee is now expanding her horizons to explore the entertainment industry. Her undeniable talent and charm was displayed in last year’s Hearts on Ice, the country’s first ever figure skating series, where she captured the hearts of viewers.