Former Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo has been named the new godfather of junior golf in the Philippines, according to the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.
It’s a criterion that fits the former lawmaker and golf enthusiast perfectly. After all, he has a daughter who is one of the brightest lights in the Philippine jungolf scene, 16-year-old Monique Arroyo.
“Proud daddy! My daughter Monique led the ISM (International School of Manila) ladies’ golf team to its first-ever gold medal,” he wrote recently on his Instagram account.
It was that kind of support — hands-on and heartfelt — that he brings to jungolf.
Even a sport that many perceived as “for the rich,” needs help sometimes. And that would have to be much more than money.
“Congressman Arroyo has been actively supporting our tournaments and programs through his family’s Lourdes Tuason Arroyo Foundation,” JGFP president Oliver Gan said.
“His support enabled us to sustain our programs for underprivileged golfers performing well in various local tournaments.”
Among the LTA beneficiaries are reigning Faldo Series Asian Finals champion Alethea Gaccion, and Kiera Montebon. They received P100,000 each to finance their trips to the United States for the IMG Junior World Championships in San Diego, California in July.
Arroyo was present during the turnover of checks to Gaccion and Montebon. Another recipient of P100,000 assistance was Alonso Retuerto, the grandson of renowned coach Roger Retuerto.
Gan didn’t say how much more Arroyo was bankrolling JGFP’s campaign but it was “enough for us to aggressively pursue our programs.”
‘Congressman Arroyo has been actively supporting our tournaments and programs through his family’s Lourdes Tuason Arroyo Foundation.’
The 54-year-old son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is joining the JGFP delegation at the IMG event. His daughter Monique is seeing action in the girls’ 15-18 division alongside Gaccion, Reese Ng, Anya Cedo and Grace Quintanilla.
The prestigious event is set for 16 to 22 July on various golf courses in California.
The Philippines is also fielding entries in the 6-and-under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 brackets.
The 6-under and 7-8 divisions will be played at the Singing Hills Pine Glenn and Pine Oak courses at Sycuan Resort in El Cajon, California.
The 11-12 bracket is set at the Heights Golf Course in San Diego, 13-14 division at Rancho Bernardo Heights and the 15-18 division at Torrey Pines.
