NBA superstar Kobe Bryant gets warm welcome from Taguigeños

July 13, 2011


Residents of Taguig City led by Mayor Lani Cayetano and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano gave a warm Filipino welcome to National Basketball Association (NBA) Superstar Kobe Bryant as the "Black Mamba" visited the Gawad Kalinga community in Barangay Pinagsama as part of the charity work of his "Kobe Tour 2011."



Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano praised Bryant for his meaningful message to the youth of Taguig, with the basketball star stressing that poverty should not be a hindrance in achieving their dreams.

"It is Kobe Bryant's message to us that I would like to reiterate to our young Taguigeños. In this regard, we've made concrete steps to uplift the quality of education here in Taguig with an expanded scholarship program, increased budget for the Taguig City University (TCU) and distribution of school uniforms and school supplies. Our purpose is to provide better opportunities for the students as they grow up," Mayor Cayetano said.



Bryant, in his third visit to the country, chose to donate last July 13 a spanking new basketball court to the Gawad Kalinga Community with the refurbished Pinagsama Covered Court. To top it off, the NBA superstar also gave away basketballs to the young members of GK's youth program dubbed "SIGA."

The Cayetano couple expressed their heartfelt thanks to the basketball star for refurbishing the Compañero Cayetano covered court. "This covered court is sentimental to our family because it was constructed through the initiative of Senator Rene "Compañero" Cayetano," the couple said.

The aim of the GK SIGA program is to discourage underprivileged youngsters from taking up vices, and at the same time give them hope and a positive outlook on life.

Also witnessing the Kobe Tour aside from Mayor Lani Cayetano and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano are some city officials, GK officials, members of the media and throngs of the NBA superstar's fan who patiently waited for his arrival.

Lawyer Darwin Icay, Mayor Cayetano's spokesperson, said that the event provided a great opportunity for the young residents to hear Bryant's message and words of wisdom.

"Hopefully Bryant's message made its mark to all our beloved Taguigeños, since it is also the Cayetano Administration's thrust to severe the influence of poverty over the people by raising the quality of education," Icay concluded.

[in tagalog]

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, mainit na sinalubong ng mga Taguigueño

Mainit na sinalubong ng mga Taguigueño sa pangunguna ni Mayor Lani Cayetano at ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang NBA Superstar at tinaguriang Black Mamba na si Kobe Bryant na bumisita sa Gawad Kalinga community sa Brgy. Pinagsama para sa charity work na bahagi ng Kobe Tour 2011.



Pinuri ni Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano ang makahulugang mensahe ni Bryant para sa mga kabataang Taguigueño na hindi dapat maging sagabal ang kahirapan para makamit ang mga pangarap sa buhay.

"Tulad po ng mensahe ni Kobe Bryant, ito rin ang paulit-ulit kong ipinararating sa mga kabataang Taguigueño. Kaugnay nito ay gumawa na po tayo ng mga kongkretong hakbangin para maitaas ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa Taguig tulad ng pinalawak na scholarship program, pagtataas sa budget ng Taguig City University (TCU)at ang pagbibigay ng yari ng uniporme at kumpletong gamit pang-eskwela. Lahat nang ito ay may layuning mabiyan ng magandang oportunidad sa buhay ang mga kabataan," giit ni Mayor Cayetano.

Sa ikatlong pagbisitang ito ni Bryant sa bansa ay napili nitong bisitahin at handogan noong Hulyo 13 ng maayos at magandang playing court ang Gawad Kalinga Community sa pamamagitan nang inayos at pinagandang Pinagsama Covered Court. Ito ay bukod pa sa pagkakaloob ng mga basketball na magagamit ng mga kabataan sa ilalim ng SIGA Program na siyang youth program ng GK.



Taos-pusong pinasalamatan ng mag-asawang Cayetano ang basketbolista sa ginawa nitong pagpapaganda sa Compañero Cayetano covered court. "Ang covered court na ito ay may sentimental value sa aming pamilya dahil ito'y naipatayo sa inisyatibo ni Senador Rene "Compañero" Cayetano," sabi ng mag-asawa.

Layunin ng SIGA Program ng GK na mailayo sa mga bisyo ang mga mahihirap na kabataan at mabigyan sila ng pag-asa at positibong pananaw sa buhay.

Bukod kay Mayor Lani Cayetano at Senator Alan Peter Cayetano ay sumaksi rin sa Kobe Tour ang ilang opisyal ng lungsod, mga opisyal ng GK, mga media at ang nakaparaming tagahanga ng NBA Superstar na matiyagang naghintay sa pagdating nito.

Sinabi naman ni Atty. Darwin Icay, tagapagsalita ni Mayor Cayetano na magandang pagkakataon ito kung saan maraming kabataang Taguigueño ang narinig ang mensaheng nais ipaabot ni Bryant.

"Nawa ay tumatak ang mensaheng ito ni Bryant sa marami dahil ang misyon ng Cayetano Administration ay ang putulin ang tanikala ng kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng libre subalit de kalidad na edukasyon," pagwawakas ni Atty. Icay.