KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The local sports scene heats up this July 11, as the Provincial Government officially opens a new wave of major sporting tournaments in line with the upcoming 60th Foundation Anniversary and the 27th T’nalak Festival.
Athletes and enthusiasts are gathering across the province for the highly anticipated 3rd Pickleball Tournament, the T’nalak Golf Tournament, and the Table Tennis Tournament.
This week’s lineup follows a kick-off on Friday, July 10, which would drew large crowds for the opening legs of both the bowling and table tennis competitions. This year’s sports roster is deliberately curated to bring elite regional and national competitors straight into the heart of the province.
According to sports official Paul Millan, these invitational matches serve a larger purpose than mere competition. They act as a premier stage to put South Cotabato’s top-tier amenities on full display for visitors.
“These invitational sports events showcase our world-class sports facilities and the capability of South Cotabato to host large-scale, high-level tournaments. Beyond the competition, this is a prime opportunity for ‘sportscation’—allowing athletes and their companions to experience both sports and vacation in time for the grand T’nalak Festival celebrations,” Millan stated.
The strategic influx of visitors is part of a broader local governance blueprint aimed at boosting the provincial economy.
T’nalak Festival Director Rudy Jimenea emphasized that these sporting events are intentionally designed to stimulate the local market by transforming visiting delegates into active consumers.
“The provincial government deliberately creates these events to drive local economic activities, and the government acts as the bridge for this to happen. When these athletes visit and perform their sports here in South Cotabato, they also spend their money on our local accommodation, transport, and food, directly boosting our homegrown businesses,” Jimenea explained.
The ongoing tournaments are expected to peak over the weekend, drawing thousands of spectators and setting a vibrant, high-energy tone as adrenaline rush Motocross Competition opens on July 11–just days before the official calendar of the 2026 T’nalak Festival fully unfolds.
