n excellent feat indeed! However, the driving force behind Toby’s Sports is the desire to promote athletics and fitness as a way of life. The company decided early on that to realize this vision, Toby’s Sports should stand for something beyond merely selling sports equipment.

"The best way to encourage people of all ages and physical condition to take up sports is to start with the young", says Toby Claudio, eldest son of the store’s founder and the company’s operations manger.

TAKING INITIATIVE

Spurred by the idea of making the Philippines a republic of sports and fitness enthusiasts, Toby’s Sports pioneered grassroots sports programs for Filipino children to fulfill their potential in athletics, and possibly, become future champions.

"There is so much to gain from sports. It’s the best way to keep fit and healthy. It teaches fair play, teamwork, discipline, commitment, and focus. Kids realize through sports that they can push themselves to achieve things they never thought they could achieve. All these while having fun at the same time," explains Claudio, an athlete and avid sports enthusiast himself.

With tennis, badminton and volleyball among the sports that the country has not had much international success with in the recent past, the Claudios decided to turn the spotlight on these fields. These are sports that many Filipinos love and play often. "Filipinos have tremendous natural talent, instinct and willpower. What we want is to help them realize their full potential in sports," he says.

Over the years, the tennis badminton, and volleyball tournaments have become a vehicle for over 4,000 hopefuls to realize their potential. The Toby’s Age Group Badminton Championship is now on its fourth year and has attracted more than 2,500 participants since its inception. Open to those 18 years old to as young as eight years old, the tournament is held every last week of October and the first week of November.

On the other hand, the Summer Tennis Festival now on its fifth year is open to those 10-18 years old. Sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA), the Summer Tennis Festival has become a launch pad for the likes of Ralph Barte and Kyle Joshua Dandan who are now making waves in the international tennis scene. The program is a project of the Future Tennis Scholarship Foundation, which Toby’s Sports actively supports. Its mission is to hone promising young tennis stars. The Foundation provides financial and academic support to Barte and Dandan.

Lastly, the Juniors Volleyball League started only this year and is also open to students 18 years old and below. Over 200 participants from nine schools in Metro Manila have signed on to vie for the grand prize. Toby’s Sports plans to hold the tournament every quarter.

PICKING UP THE PACE FORWARD

"Our mission is to introduce more people to sports, give them access to the best facilities and equipment, and expose them early to competitions," explains Claudio.

He adds that the key to producing exceptional Filipino athletes will be to get the private sector and national sports bodies to work hand-in-hand to provide the necessary means for promising athletes to hone their skills.

Despite the lack of funds, the government has a role to play by supporting sports officials who can give priority to the interests of the country and its athletes. They need to create a structure that will make private companies want to contribute financially for sports development because these funds will be appropriated to the most deserving athletes and sports programs," says Claudio.

More than pushing the kids to excel in sports and possibly bring international glory to the country, however, Toby’s Sports wants the kids to simply engage in a good play and enjoy it.

"More than honing these kids to become great athletes, what’s more priceless is seeing a smile light up the faces of winning kids when their names are called on stage. It gives them the kind of recognition they truly deserve," Claudio shares.