Introducing Miramar Beach

by Fel Gorospe

Courtesy of Aubrey Tabuga of The Lucky Traveler travel blog

Still awaiting to get discovered is a beauty up in the north – Miramar Beach. If you are up for a roadtrip or a pilgrimage in Ilocos Sur’s historic churches or just want to take a look at what more this province can offer, go offroad into one of the local pride- Miramar Beach. This untouched and untamed piece of nature is located in the western portion of Magsingal, a small town in northern Ilocos Sur.

The northern Ilocos Region is slowly making its name as a destination for beach lovers, the most famous being Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, and the surfing destination- San Juan in La Union.  Though Miramar Beach doesn’t have the white sand that well-known Philippine beaches have, it is a beauty in its own with its fine sand and spacious beachfront, unlike the rugged and rocky beaches in the southern part of Ilocos Sur.

Lights All Green for Ilocos Football

by Fel Gorospe

The Ilocos Football Association (IFA) is ending the year with a positive note. Last November 30, 2013, IFA’s application for a change of name has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Its officially registered name now is ILOCOS SUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION INC.

Interestingly, on the same day, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has approved the probationary membership of IFA to its roster of members nationwide. With this, IFA holds the distinction to be the only local football association in the entire Ilocos affiliated to PFF,  thereby strengthening its foothold as the umbrella group  of all football clubs  and associations in Ilocos.

With everything seems to be falling into its rightful places, IFA is poised to accelerate its programs and activities for the coming year.  As opening salvo for 2014, the first-ever Beach Football Invitational Tournament in the North will be held on the first quarter of the year. Youth football teams, ages 15 years old and under, from other countries including Guam are seeing action in this maiden tournament, the first to be organized by IFA and to be staged in the pristine shores of Ilocos.

IFA President attends FIFA Grassroots Development Course & Festival in Guam

by Fel Gorospe

IFA president and head coach, Mr. Edgar Robert “Coach Bobby” de Jesus joined over fifty (50) coaches in the FIFA Grassroots Development Course & Festival held on August 21 – 25, 2013 in Guam.  The course conductor was FIFA Instructor Lim Kim Chon of Malaysia, who has been instructing various FIFA coaching course since 1999 particularly for grassroots development.

The five-day course delved into concepts of coaching youth players aged 6 to 12 years old in both theoretical and practical sessions where participants were given ideas for practice drills and incorporating fun with technical training. The main mission for the coach is to teach through encouragement and achievement as well as to promote learning through play.

On the final day of the five-day course, the coaches organized a football festival for Guam’s youth players.  Hundreds of kids and their players enjoyed the festival, which showcased many of the concepts and activities the coaches learned during the course.

Welcome Reception

by Fel Gorospe

The heart of the day’s activities happened late in the afternoon at the Vgent Foundation House grounds.

A Welcome Program was held for the three (3) IFA players who have recently arrived from playing stints in Europe. These are Ezekiel Tañeza of St. Williams Institute, John Paul Gorospe  and Ivan Rey Venenciano, both students at The Magsingal Institute.

The three boys reinforced the Team Philippines Youth Football Association, a football association based in Laguna which is actively doing the rounds of tournaments here and abroad, in the Norway Cup 2013 slated July 27 to August 3, 2013 at Oslo, Norway.  Norway Cup is the largest international football tournament for the youth.

Part of the travel itinerary of the Team Philippines was a visit to Ibercup 2013 in Portugal and  Intersport Youth Football Festival in Hungary.  All the three boys brought home with them wonderful memories of their European travel.

Beach Football To Brew Up In Miramar

by Fel Gorospe

Gideon “Gido” Diestro, the sports and recreation advisor of the event management company KAIZEN based in Guam, USA,  visited the affair of IIocos Football Association (IFA) on Saturday, 10th August 2013. He was invited by Coach Bobby de Jesus to grace the event.

Early this month, Gido paid a visit to Coach Bobby to extend an invitation for IFA to take part in the 2014 Youth Games in Guam, USA in the month of May.  The company he is representing, Kaizen, is the event manager for the said Games.  Coach Bobby warmly welcomed the invitation as it is already a big privilege to be invited in such prestigious event. Mr. Felicisimo P. Gorospe will  head the Philippine delegation during the Games.

IFA consultant garners new distinction

by Fel Gorospe

The consultant for Special Projects of Ilocos Football Association (IFA) continues to stamp her mark in the international Table Tennis arena. Ms. Rachel Ramos has this month passed the gruelling International Referee Course & Exam of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) held at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was among the only five successful candidates and the only one from the Philippines. The results were made known last July 19, 2013.

Ms. Ramos’ recent feat made her the first and only International (IR) in the Philippines and the first female IR in all of South East Asia. To date, only the countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and now the Philippines boast of qualified IRs in the region. This newest milestone in Ms. Ramos’ almost a decade-long Table Tennis involvement added up to her still unbroken Philippine record as the only Blue-Badge International Umpire, the highest classification of table tennis umpires in the world.

IFA Kicks Off 3rd Football Festival

by Fel Gorospe

The third rendition of the annual Football Festival was sportively staged on May 25, 2013 at the newly-lighted IFA Football Field in Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.  Organized by the Ilocos Football Association for three straight years now, the football festival this year was participated in by  twelve (12) seasoned teams coming from as far as Naga City in the south and Tuguegarao City in the north.

This much-awaited festival was graced by special guests namely Ms. Erica Marchant  (American Peace Corp representative), Estrelita Soria (DepEd Region I assistant director), Atty. Antonio Luis Carpio (Philippine Football Federation board member), and Mary Ann Quintana (Tupperware Brands representative.

The following were the teams which saw action in this annual festival:  ABC Stars of Naga, Futbol Club de Mandaluyong, Don Bosco Youth of Mandaluyong, Football Academy of Tarlac, Tuguegarao, Sto. Domingo, Laoag, Bataan Football Club, Athletico Seminaryo FC, Kugtaleros, UTIRS, and  IFA.

2013 IFA Coaches' Clinic

by Fel Gorospe
(as published in the IFA website)

An IFA-organized football coaching course was successfully held last April 29-30, 2013 at the IFA Football Field in Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

A total of 16 coaches from five different clubs all over Ilocos Sur province took part in the two-day course. The course was divided in two parts, first was theoretical lectures and the other was practical demonstrations. The participants were also given a chance to ask questions during the open discussion.

At the end, the participants gained the necessary tools and tactics for effective coaching.
The resource speaker was Mr. Edgar Robert “Coach Bobby” de Jesus, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) License B coach. Coach Bobby is a veteran football coach, having handled a number of  both professional and school-based clubs. Since 2011, he’s concurrently the head coach and president of the Ilocos Football Association.

IFA players win college scholarships

by Fel Gorospe

Lyka Rivera, a VFI Scholar throughout her secondary education, 2008-2013, at Magsingal National High School, has recently earned a Full Scholarship at the Rizal Technological University (RTU) located in Mandaluyong City. The scholarship includes full tuition and miscellaneous fees as well as a monthly allowance of P500.00. The 16-year old lass from Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal will be taking up Bachelor of Science in Education Major in Physical Education. Lyka is a member of Ilocos Football Association (IFA) and has been actively playing Football since 2011.

Let there be light...

by Fel Gorospe

You are all welcome to the official lighting up of the IFA Football Field at our beautiful barangay in Miramar, Magsingal.  It will be held on March 15, 2013 at 5.30 in the afternoon.

The 2nd IFA Cup Invitational

by Fel Gorospe
(as published in the IFA website)

The second rendition of the annual football festival kicked off last May 21, 2012 at the IFA’s football grounds in Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. No less than ten teams from as far as Metro Manila participated in last month’s 2nd IFA Cup Invitational through the invitation extended to them by IFA’s president and head coach, Mr. Boddy de Jesus.

The event has been extra meaningful with the attendance of the Civitan Philippines’ prime mover, Dr. Tess Yambot, who has also recently engineered the creation of Civitan Ilocos Club. CivitanPhilippinesis the latest institution which threw its full support to IFA, believing in its noble cause.

Ilocos Football Association (IFA) Website

by Fel Gorospe

IFA has been busy since the day of its creation.  We have gone a long way. Continue to support us and the game of football.  Get all the IFA news at our official website.

CAP ON FRAGARIA CUP

by Fel Gorospe

While the Azkals won over Srilanka, 4-0, last Sunday, July 3, 2011, football Filipino children players also participated in an international football arena, the Fragaria Cup 2011 in Slovak Republic, Europe.

Our country participated in both boys and girls division leading on the Southeast Asian participation in such global competition of over 200 football teams.

Becoming a leading football nation with considerable world ranking, they say, is a 20-year program, conservatively. With our active training and participation in the early years, such as these U10 category games, the cap on Fragaria Cup may very well be a feather on our nation's football cap slowly landing in the years ahead of expertise building.

KRASNA HORKA
The Philippine Team enjoys spots in Slovakia such as the Krasna Horka located in Kosice. Training commences after the tour.

TOUGHER THAN THE ILOCOS SUMMER HEAT

by Fel Gorospe

The heat is on.  With the summer heat at more than 36?C or 97?F in Ilocos Sur, it’s definitely going to be tough. Toughing out the Ilocos heat and as a testament to the commitment to reinforcing football awareness and competitiveness to the northern region of the Philippines, 27 football teams felt the heat at the 1st Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) Football Festival held on May 6-8, 2011 at IYFA Football Field, Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

BEACH EXHIBITION GAMES
Teams and their coaches including players lining up for the commencement of beach football and exhibition games held in Miramar Beach, Barangay Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

Comprised of 16 field football teams and 11 beach football teams with more than 120 players, the 27 teams who vied for gold came from different cities and municipalities of Manila, Makati, Mandluyong, Vigan, Magsingal and Laoag. The three-day festival has been a showcase for football clubs and teams to convene and prove their athletic competitiveness at the newly inaugurated IYFA Football Field and the make-shift beach football area in Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

Football Festival Program in Miramar

by Fel Gorospe


The IYFA is conducting the Football Festival Program in Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur from May 6-8, 2011.

The 1st Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) Seminar for Coaches and Referees

by Fel Gorospe

As part of the umbrella initiative, “Futbol Revolution” and to push forward football sports awareness in a structured manner, the 1st Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) Seminar for Coaches and Referees were held at the IYFA Football Field on March 25-27, 2011 in Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

Thirty three (33) coaches and referees from cities of Vigan, Laoag and Candon as well as from the munipalities of Magsingal, Bantay, Sto Domingo, Santa, Santiago, Binalonan and other parts of Ilocos and Pangasinan region participated in the training.

Mr. Fernando Flores, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) representative and Department of Education (DepEd) tournament director, together with Mr. Edgar Robert de Jesus, IYFA president and accredited Asian football referee, served as resource persons.

IYFA and FAN Launching Ceremonies

by Fel Gorospe

Despite the tsunami scare going around in the North of Manila as a result of Japan's earthquake and tsunami tragedy, the launching of Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) and Futbol Academy of the North (FAN) still persevered. Hence, on March 12, 2011 in the IYFA Football Field, the anticipated happened. The event was spearheaded by the VGent Group of Companies and supported by the leadership of Vigan City, St. Williams Institute, Miramar Barangay Council and the Municipality of Magsingal. Over 200 football players were trained by IYFA and participated in the launching.

A parade commenced the event showcasing the roster of Miramar Elementary School football players, Miramar Elementary School Rondalla Club, delegates from Miriam Academy of Valenzuela, officers and prime movers of Stl Williams Institute, FAN, IYFA, Vgent Group of Companies, and indigents of Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.   Led by VGent Group of Companies Chairman Emeritus Mr. Felicisimo Gorospe and Overall Chairman Mrs. Erlinda Gorospe, the parade served as an announcement to the community that football will be or is now a promising sport for Ilocos Sur.

Football comes to Magsingal

by Fel Gorospe

The Futbol Academy of the North (FAN) and the Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) will be launched in Miramar on March 12, 2011.