PASAY CITY – It’s done! The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Shooting Team emerged as the Overall Champion in the recently concluded 2018 GCAA Shoot Fest. The team won a total of 16 team and individual titles en route to the historic “three-peat.”
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) came in at second place, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) came in third, and trailing the pack of titlists was the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Head Coach and Team Captain Filbert Sollesta led PhilHealth’s charge and bagged three (3) event championships, all in the Production division while teammate Fahad Tomawis earned the individual event title in the Classic category.
“I’m very proud sa performance nila [teammates] because some of them had difficulties even in making the practice pero maganda pa rin ang performance nila,” Sollesta said, “Masaya ako sa outcome [championship] at sa performance ng team.”
Sollesta thanked the Corporation for its support to the Shooting Team and invited interested PhilHealth employees to try out for next year’s shooting games, “Nagpapasalamat kami sa korporasyon because we were able to represent PhilHealth in this Shoot Fest. I also asked my teammates na suklian namin ng excellence sa sport na ito iyong suportang nakukuha namin [from PhilHealth]. Sa mga kasama natin sa PhilHealth na gustong mag-join, they just have to signify and get the endorsement of their [respective] offices.”
Regional Vice-President (RVP) of PhilHealth Regional Office IV-A Alberto Manduriao and Atty. Allan Panolong settled for runner-up honors in the Executive events. They competed in the Standard and Classic groupings, respectively. Jojo Javelosa and Arlon Bables also received second place trophies to hold their opponents at bay and assured PhilHealth of a successful overall title run. Princess Marie Dequito, the squad’s only female shooter, was second best in the Ladies’ Classic category.
The PhilHealth Shooting Team capped the “three-peat” with championships in the team events of the Standard and Classic divisions and a runner-up finish in the Production class. The shooters topped the Standard Team versus Team competition and came up one shot short of the title in the Production cluster of the same event.
“Congratulations, PhilHealth Shooting Team, for winning the overall championship for the third straight year. The Corporation takes pride in your achievements and wishes you continued success in the next GCAA Shoot Fests,” said PhilHealth Interim/Officer-inCharge President and CEO Dr. Celestina Ma. Jude P. de la Serna.
PhilHealth showed intense focus and superb shooting skills through the course of the competition and displayed composure and resilience despite having six (6) rookies in the roster. The “grand slam” gave the PhilHealth Shooting Team an aura of invincibility that will be carried on to the succeeding GCAA Shoot Fests, cultivating a winning tradition among its members. Fourth straight overall championship? Oh yes! (END) (by JJ Rico)
(Reference: Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, Head Executive Assistant and Concurrent OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group, Cel No. 0917-8089399)