Kalayaan Grounds, Malacañan Palace
September 15, 2024
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and the rest of the First Family, successfully hosted the ‘PH to Serve: A Concert for the One-Year Countdown to the Philippine Hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025’ at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañan Palace.
The event aims to support Alas Pilipinas — the men’s national volleyball team — as they begin preparation for the major sporting event slated from 12-28 September 2025. It also showed the strong support from agencies and sports bodies that are working tirelessly to ensure the successful staging of the FIVB Men’s World Championship, which is expected to attract thousands of volleyball fans around the world.
Performances featured world-class talents from Filipinos who represented the country in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) and two (2) special acts that mesmerized the audience with their unique visual artistry that lighted up the stage.
Highlighting the ‘PH to Serve’ concert was the presentation of the Alas Pilipinas team composed of Kim Malabunga (Middle Blocker), Rwenzmel Taguibolos (Middle Blocker), Lloyd Josafat (Middle Blocker), Gabriel EJ Casaña (Setter), Noel Michael Kampton (Outside Hitter), Joshua Umandal (Outside Hitter), Michaelo Buddin (Outside Hitter), Ave Joshua Retamar (Setter), John Paul Bugaoan (Middle Blocker), Leo Ordiales (Opposite), Vince Patrick Lorenzo (Libero), Josh Ybañez (Libero), Louie Ramirez (Opposite), Jade Alex Disquitado (Outside Hitter), Mark Frederick Calado (Opposite), Adrian Villados (Setter) and Jenngerard Arnfranz Diao (Middle Blocker), together with Head Coach Angiolino Frigoni and the rest of the coaching staff.
During the program, President Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos received commemorative gifts symbolizing the official turnover of the 2025 Men’s World Championship hosting to the Philippines from the FIVB, Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
The FIVB Men’s World Championship will see 32 national teams vying for volleyball’s top prize. The tournament has two (2) automatic qualifiers, the Philippines as host country and defending champion Italy.
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