RIYADH, 20 December 2002 — The prestigious “2003 Haj Goodwill Games” once again will be hosted by the Overseas Filipino Workers Bowlers of Riyadh (OFWBR) on Feb. 10-13, 2003 at the FAL Sports Complex Bowling Center. It may be recalled that the Haj Goodwill Games 2001 hosted by the OFWBR held at the defunct Riyadh Sports Club Bowling Center made history among the OFW bowlers by way of meeting new friends like the debuting Asir Delegation under the leadership of Ver Crisostomo. In this year’s Haj Goodwill Games, the Asir Delegation will be sending three (3) teams consisting of twelve players wherein one of their team will be dubbed as “Asir 500 Bowlers” who will give some spicy and additional fanfare during the games.
The Filipino Tenpin Bowlers, Eastern Region (Filbowlers) will field-in four teams and it will be under the guidance of their president, Boy Tuazon.
The Khobar’s 500 of Jun Canar and Dammam-500 of Loi Narvadez confirmed to send two teams each in this event.
Also expected to participate the Haj Goodwill Games is the Taif Filipino Bowling Club which will be sending two teams. The Filipino Tenpin Bowlers of Jeddah/Brotherhood Bowling Group of Rally Zamora and Arnold Alday has been also invited and OFWBR has allotted five teams for their delegation.
The games that will be played are Team, Doubles, Singles and the prestigious Masters Event wherein the top 30 bowlers will compete for the coveted master’s crown. Delegations from Alkhobar, Dammam, Asir, Taif and Jeddah will be billeted at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel (formerly the Olaya Palace Hotel) starting Feb. 10, 2003. Dante Prado, chairperson of the Riyadh 500 Bowlers will field four (4) fancied teams while the remaining eight slots will be fielded by the OFWBR and one of them is the participation of Riyadh Junior bowlers to be captained by Fernie Balano. The colorful opening ceremonies will be held at the banquet hall of the Howard Johnson Plaza hotel and the beautiful sound system will be provided through the courtesy Jojo Paciano. Bagong Bayani Awardee sa Gitnang Silangan 2001, Cesar Saavedra and Rodel Yap, vice-chairman of the Inter-Bank Bowlers Group will be the hosts during the opening and awarding ceremonies.
The major and junior sponsors of the “2003 Haj Goodwill Games” are the House of Donuts, Saudi Telephone Company (STC), Al-Bandar Group of Companies (Home Plaza, Bosini, Splash, etc.), Forex Cargo, Abuljadayel Beverages Industires, sole distributor of Bison Energy Drink and Caesar Natural Juice, Giordano Fashions, Skyfreight Forwarders, Garuda Indonesia Airways, Bugshan House of Perfumes, Pinoy Supermarket, Al-Rajhi Supermarket, McDonalds, the ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC), Bahr Al-Olum Printing Press, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Sunbulah Foods, Café Manila Oriental Restaurant and Khalid Hamod, Proprietor of the FAL Bowling Center. The 2003 Haj Goodwill Games organizing committee are composed of Noli Ritual, Miles Rodillas, Joey Maningas, Rolly Manalang, Larry Mondoy, Jimmy Medina, Rolly Dejucos, Dante Prado, Ramon Nilo, Joe Concepcion, Mario Reyes, Ms. Virgie Miranda, Willie Ortega, Atoy Malubay, Benny Mondoy, Solaiman Jesusco, Rizal Dellosa and Babes Nival. (Ricnol Mondrit)
