Dulag 1st Futsal Cup Champions: Inclusivity, Youth Development, and Community Spirit

On September 6, 2025, the Brgy. Combis Sports Center in Dulag, Leyte, was filled with energy and excitement as the community came together for the Dulag 1st Futsal Cup, a milestone event made possible through the partnership of the Local Government Unit of Dulag, Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Dulag, and FundLife. The tournament was more than just a competition; it was a celebration of youth, equality, and the power of sport to bring people together.

The response from the community was overwhelming, with 174 young athletes stepping onto the court to represent their teams and towns. Of these, 97 were girls and 77 were boys, reflecting the Cup’s success in advancing opportunities for female athletes. The competition featured 10 teams in the 18 Under Girls Division and 9 teams in the 16 Under Boys Division, with participants coming not only from Dulag but also from neighboring towns of Tolosa and Burauen, as well as from Tacloban City.

The 1st Dulag Futsal Cup also marked a historic first for the municipality. While sports like basketball, volleyball, badminton, and chess have long dominated local competitions, often with boys as the primary participants, futsal has never been given the same platform. By staging this tournament, Dulag took an important step toward breaking gender barriers in sport, ensuring that both girls and boys can access equal opportunities to play, compete, and excel in futsal.

The Cup carried a clear purpose: to promote inclusivity and gender equality by giving both boys and girls equal opportunities to showcase their skills, to encourage healthy and active lifestyles while instilling values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, and to strengthen community spirit by uniting schools, families, and local partners in support of positive youth development.

Throughout the tournament, the young players showed remarkable passion, resilience, and joy in every match. Families and friends filled the venue with cheers of encouragement, proving once again that sport has the power to inspire connection and pride within communities. For many of the youth, it was not only about scoring goals but also about building friendships, gaining confidence, and dreaming bigger for their futures.

The success of the Dulag 1st Futsal Cup highlights what is possible when local government, youth groups, and organizations like FundLife work hand in hand to invest in young people. By creating spaces where girls and boys can play, learn, and lead, Dulag is setting the stage for a brighter future where no child is left behind.