IT was volleyball world at Malacañang’s grounds on Sunday as the Drawing of Lots the night before extended to a “Concierto sa Palacio” that marked a weekend of celebration for the country’s solo hosting of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship next year.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and William Vincent Araneta Marcos, co-chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the world championship, entertained more than 300 guests with a two-hour concert filled with fun and enthusiasm.
“It’s really unbelievable, I didn’t expect this concert for the world championship, we never expect this,” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and now also the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
The entourage from the PNVF and FIVB with national athletes in volleyball and sitting volleyball started arriving at the Palace at 5 p.m. and to their surprise, a billboard-type tarp wall saying “PH to Serve” greeted them.
Did the Palace prepare a big Sunday night as the wall was a comprehensive gist on a brief history of the sport to the 32 nations competing in the worlds and a collage of action photos of the men’s national team.
“The commitment and effort of the government is extraordinary and we would like to thank thee President, First Lady and Vinnie,” Suzara added.
The atmosphere was relaxed and party-like all night long as the guests were entertained by a lively number from the group that won at the World Championships of Performing Arts or more popularly known as the “Talent Olympics,” in Hollywood.
“It was fantastic to see how committed the President [Marcos] is in promoting volleyball,” FIVB general director Fabio Azevedo said. “It’s fantastic to see the volleyball euphoria in the Philippines.”
Fabio presented President Marcos a painting by Slaven Dizdarevic, an Olympian decathlete from Slovakia, who created a masterpiece on a 100 cm by 150 cm canvass depicting the glory of sports.
PNVF Chairman Emeritus Alan Peter Cayetano and fellow LOC co-chair Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and member Senator Pia Cayetano, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman joined the fun-filled night that helped kick off the year-long countdown to the world championship the Philippines is hosting from September 12 to 28, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
