Fat Boy Tens Raises Funds for Bahay Bata Orphans

The jovial bunch of POTBELLIED PIGS from Hong Kong have once again turned out in force to organize and participate in the fifth consecutive FAT BOY TENS RUGBY TOURNAMENT which was held at Clark Airbase, Challenger Field on Saturday, 6 September 2008.

The Rugby Union event has now become a major annual event, and this year, 16 teams traveled to contest the coveted Fat Boy trophies. Ten teams traveled from abroad with local clubs from Hong Kong, Taipei Baboons and the Selangor Dogs from Malaysia all making the journey to compete in the tournament.

The Fat Boy Tens is a fun weekend-long Rugby Union festival which aims to raise money for the Bahay Bata orphanage which is situated in Angeles City. Each year since 2003, the Fat Boy Tens has contributed the proceeds from the tournament to the Bahay Bata orphanage and this year the whole event including the Charity Golf Tournament and the Rugby Tens competition combined to raise a record total of US$45,000. This money goes directly to improving the education, facilities and lifestyles of the 50 orphans who are currently living at Bahay Bata and also helps to develop the sport of Rugby Union in the Philippines.

The Bahay Bata orphanage has accepted Rugby Union as a major sport and currently has two teams who compete in the PRFU junior’s league. It was fantastic to witness the U/14 and U/12 Bahay Bata teams compete against the Tuloy Foundation teams from Manila, with the local boys from Bahay Bata winning both games on home soil and displaying their older and avid Rugby supporters that they will be the future Philippine National Team players.

The Fat Boy Tens is a wonderful event that promotes all the great values in the game of Rugby Union especially friendship, team spirit, courage, sportsmanship, charity, skills and fitness. The boys from Bahay Bata will soon be contesting against their older rivals and I thoroughly expect them to play above their weight and take a Fat Boys trophy.