24/08/2026
HOW WE DID IT and how it is going.
What started as a simple invitation for an open table tennis tournament turned into something much bigger than we expected.
A couple of days after posting, registrations went beyond 100 payers - overwhelming, exciting, and a little terrifying. We can only accommodate 60. We made it clear in our letter of expectation that we were not professional tournament organizers - just a family looking for "kalaro ni Jhuno." This was simply meant to be a fun day for people who live table tennis to meet, play, connect, and enjoy the sport.
But then day by day, people started offering their help. And that's when we realized: this wasn't Jhuno's tournament anymore. It was the community's. Ma'am Cath offered the assistance of National and International Zambales Umpires, and we gladly accepted. It became more organized, more competitive, and almost professional.
It even became a valuable preparatory tune-up game for those aiming for zonal, provincial and CLRAA competitions.
We only had one table - Jhuno's. Thankfully, we had people who didn't hesitate to lend theirs.
Cabangan National High School - thank you, Sir Teric.
Katipunan ng Kabataan ng San Juan - thank you, SK Hazel Tabije
Bangantalinga Elementary School and Sta. Barbara Integrated School - thank you, Ma'am Cath. Thank you for sharing your tables. You helped make the impossible-looking setup possible.
Cabangan PCPT Simon Gonzales, who also happens to be a table tennis pro, passed by, shared tips, gave encouragement and deployed two of the town's police officers to ensure peace and safety throughout the day. Salamat po sa inyo PNP Cabangan Municipal Police Station.
Kuya Art, salamat sa surrounds. They did more than keep the balls from flying everywhere - they helped create a proper playing space and kept the audience from getting too close to the tables.
Mayor Ronald Apostol, thank you for allowing us to use the Sports Complex on such short notice. It gave us the space we needed to make this happen.
To my Sister Kayden, thank you for sponsoring lunch and drinks. As an athelete herself, she knows exactly ehat it feels like to be competing all day and how much a decent drink and a meal can mean to an athlete.
The Mastermind coordination team, thank you for helping us otganize our stations:
📋Registration
⛑️First Aid
🍱💧Food and Drinks
To all the schools and town participants who traveled to be with us, thank you. We know most of you came from quite a distance - Subic to Sta. Cruz. Parents and coaches who supported their athletes 100% and stayed with us throughout thr day - thank you for believing in them, cheering for them, and making sure they had someone on their corner.
To our International and National Zambales Umpires, hindi po biro ung ginawa nyo dito. Sobrang thank you
Sir Niño Morata
Sir Jonathan Panarada
Sir Alfred Miclat
Sir Jonel Merced
Sir Benjamin Paner
Ma'am Catherine Bantilo - Ma'am... especially you, pagod at puyat ka pa nyan pero your support and energy was still at 100% 🥰
Jared, Jim, Juswa, salamat ulit ha, love nyo talaga kami. Ate Nors, Jazz at sa kitchen crew ng Nagimays, salamat. Harmonic Frequency for our speakers.
Mars of Cine Radical , thank you for capturing these moments and for being there kahit alam namin na you have a lot on your plate.
To All Nagimays' guests, wedding couples, resort partners and clients - this was also made possible because of you. Because you continue to keep our calendars full, we were able to set aside a portion from every food order and event service to provide the venue, food, and prize for our players.
Most of all, to the Zambales Table Tennis Community, thank you for creating something meaningful and for saying "tutulong po kami."
HOW IT's GOING:
Di na naghahagilap ng kalaro si Jhuno, may coach na din sya na nakilala namin from this tournament, who offered training. Now he has someone who has extensive knowledge, someone who shows him how it shloud be done, someone na confident kaming makakasama ni Jhuno as he grows in this journey. Salamat sa 'yo, Coach.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Girls Division
🥇Christine Kate Yusi - Botolan (bumyahe pa yan from MAPUA)
🥈Naomi Camille Valdez - Palauig
🥉Aleli Eunice Paliza - Subic
Boys Division 17U
🥇Lance Andrei Domingo - Subic
🥈Niel Kareh - Sta. Cruz
🥉Ralf Vincent Arrieta - Sta. Cruz
Boys Division 18+
🥇Sir Darwin Echon - Iba (Psdo Zambales Table Tennis Trainor)
🥈Doc Karlo Marko Uy - Iba
🥉Roderick Navaroza - Iba
From "how are we going to do this" to "WE DID IT!" Salamat po sa inyong lahat.
