CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera (center) leads the ceremonial kick-off to mark the launch of the CDC, Luenthai Holdings Ltd., and TFC Grassroots Football Development Program on May 26 at the Clark Parade Grounds. With her are (from left to right) Luenthai Holdings Ltd. CEO Raymond Tan, L&T International Group Philippines Inc. President Francisco Sauceda, TFC President Fr. Marciano “Rocky” Evangelista and DOT Region III Regional Director Richard Daenos. (CDC Photo)
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — About 90 children from various Metro Clark communities took part in the launch of the Grassroots Football Development Program on May 26 at the Clark Parade Grounds, a joint initiative of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Luenthai Holdings, and Tuloy Football Club (Tuloy FC).
The program aims to develop young athletes aged 7 to 15 while instilling values of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance through structured football training. Sessions will be held twice a week within partner communities and every Saturday at Clark.
Prior to the launch, CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera highlighted the transformation of the venue, noting the readiness of the field for the program.
“Last week, there was nothing green. Everything was brown,” she said. “With the field becoming green in time for our launch, I feel that there is so much in store for this program.”
Atty. Devanadera emphasized that the initiative goes beyond sports development, underscoring its role in shaping character and life skills among the youth.
Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera (last row, fifth from left) poses with budding football players from Metro Clark communities at the launch of the CDC, Luenthai Holdings Ltd., and Tuloy Football Club (TFC) Grassroots Football Development Program on May 26 at the Clark Parade Grounds. With her are (last row, from left to right) TFC Treasurer Conchitina Manlapaz Poblete, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region Ill Regional Director Richard Daenos, Luenthai Holdings Ltd. CEO Raymond Tan, TFC President Fr. Marciano “Rocky” Evangelista, Tuloy Foundation Inc. Co-Founder Cathy Go, CDC Assistant Vice President for External Affairs Department Rommel Narciso, CDC Vice President for Security Services Group PMGen. Lina Sarmiento (Ret.) and L&T International Group Philippines Inc. President Francisco Sauceda. (CDC Photo)
“Clark is here to help develop the youth and direct them toward a goal-oriented, disciplined life,” she said. “This is not just sports… we will be inculcating discipline, teamwork, and passion among our kids,” she added.
Luenthai Holdings CEO Raymond Tan echoed this vision, stressing that the program is designed for long-term character building rather than short-term athletic success.
“We are here not to see champions next year. We are here to develop them and allow them to grow into being champions. But most importantly, we want to use football to teach them how to be good human beings and valuable members of the community,” Tan said.
Tuloy FC President Fr. Marciano “Rocky” Evangelista described the initiative as a transformative mission that extends beyond sports. “Anyone who comes to Clark will see a thousand kids, from different barangays and low-income areas, playing football,” he said.
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE. Children from the Grassroots Football Development Program watch TFC athletes play an exhibition game. TFC, which signed to move its home pitch to Clark last January, is a professional football club with members from underprivileged communities. (CDC Photo)
“People may remember Clark attracted some investors. But the lives that will be transformed because of this mission… that will weigh more than all the other accomplishments,” Fr. Evangelista added.
The program stems from a Memorandum of Agreement signed in January, which formally transferred Tuloy FC’s home pitch from Alabang to Clark. It is part of broader efforts to strengthen sports development and community engagement within the Clark Freeport Zone under its “live, work, play” vision.