The sixth edition of the Liga Eskwela Futsal Festival took place on January 28th, bringing together 601 participants from 48 public schools in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. The festival, a flagship program of The Henry V. Moran Foundation, aimed to promote the development of futsal in public schools and provide opportunities for children to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.
Despite the two-year absence of the festival due to the pandemic, the eagerness of the children to participate in the tournament showed the growth and development of futsal in public schools. With the support of organizations such as MVP Sports and the Philippine Football Federation, Liga Eskwela seeks to rebuild the program to pre-pandemic levels and provide more opportunities for kids to play and improve their futsal skills.
As the chairman of the Henry Moran Foundation, Danny Moran, stated, “Liga Eskwela goes beyond promoting sports and organizing competitions. It teaches us to start simple and to strive to be better futsal players. Through sports we learn that no matter the result, we never stop trying to be the best we can.”
Beyond promoting sports and competition, Liga Eskwela provides a platform for the holistic development of children. Sports, particularly futsal, can serve as a tool for growth and development in multiple aspects. It teaches children valuable life lessons such as perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship. These skills and values can be applied not only in their athletic pursuits but also in their daily lives.
Futsal can also aid in the physical development of children. It requires a combination of strength, speed, and endurance, which can help improve a child’s overall physical fitness. Furthermore, playing futsal can also help with cognitive development, as it demands quick thinking and strategic decision-making.
The winners of the 2023 Liga Eskwela Futsal Festival were announced at the end of the day, with teams from Mandaluyong, Makati, Caloocan, Pasig, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, and more, taking home top honors in the U12 Boys and Girls Elementary, U16 Boys and Girls Junior High School, and U18 Boys and Girls Senior High School categories.
Winners of the 2023 Liga Eskwela Futsal Festival
- U12 Boys Elementary – Mandaluyong (1st), Makati (2nd), Caloocan (3rd);
- U12 Girls Elementary – Makati (1st), Mandaluyong (2nd), Caloocan (3rd);
- U16 Boys Junior High School – Pasig (1st), Caloocan (2nd), Mandaluyong (3rd);
- U16 Girls Junior High School – Valenzuela (1st), Muntinlupa (2nd), Pasig (3rd);
- U18 Boys Senior High School – Valenzuela (1st), Mandaluyong (2nd), Pasig (3rd)
- U18 Girls Senior High School – Pasig (1st), Quezon City (2nd), Caloocan (3rd).
Overall, the return of the Liga Eskwela Futsal Festival was a celebration of sportsmanship and skill development, reminding us of the positive impact that sports can have on the lives of young people. We look forward to more exciting and educational futsal events in the future.