KALARO, KAIBIGAN, KASAMA is the theme of the Mindanao Peace Games (MPG). Founded in 2014, it reflects a common love for Mindanao and a belief in the unifying effects of sport. Seeking to develop friendship, leadership and camaraderie within a conflict zone, MPG captures the very essence of sports – that it is so much more than a game. It is not only skills learned on the pitch, but about leadership, collaboration, character, strength and hope – that which endures even after the final whistle has blown. Under MPG, countless young women in Mindanao have been empowered to develop their abilities as athletes, leaders and policy makers.

The founder and convenor of the Mindanao Peace Games is Emmanuel “Noli” Ayo from Naga City. He is the former athletic director of Ateneo de Naga University and former Athletic Director at the Ateneo de Davao University. Coach Noli, as colleagues and friends call him, was featured at the 2021 Annual James J. O’Brien, SJ Memorial Lecture Series in Ateneo de Naga University, where he spoke about Peace Building and Social Development through Sports. He is co-author of Winning Still (June 2021, RockEd Publications), a book compilation of essays by 27 Filipino athletes, coaches, and sportspeople, accustomed to speed, strength, and strategy, but unfamiliar with experience of stillness during the first 100 days of the pandemic lockdown. He is also a co-author of a new book, the Mindanao Peace Games (October 2022, Black Heath Publishing), offers an insight into the creation of the Games, their positive impact, and the way in which other aspiring peace and sport programs can learn from the MPG model to develop peaceful sporting initiatives of their own.

In 2020, Noli co-founded Adrenaline Solutions with Marc Dagenais, a global sports development agency that works exclusively and only with sports organizations. Its unique business model, sports specialization and technology, makes use of cloud-based distributed teams thereby changing the way sports development works in coach education, performance, sports development, learning, design, marketing and management solutions. It maintains global hubs in Montreal, Canada; Chicago, USA; London, UK; Cebu, Philippines; and, Bogota, Colombia.

In July 2023, Coach Noli has been appointed as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) sports coordinator for Mindanao. This development has been widely embraced by the local sports community. The PSC Board is headed by chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann and commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo, Walter Francis Torres, Edward Hayco, and Matthew “Fritz” Gaston. Coach Noli’s appointment as the PSC Mindanao sports coordinator comes at a timely juncture as the PSC lacked representation from Mindanao for over a year.  His presence and involvement in the PSC Mindanao office serve as a reassuring sign that the new administration has not overlooked the importance of Mindanao in its sports mandate. His extensive experience in sports leadership has made him an ideal choice for this role.

Last October 19-22, 2023, Coach Noli co-hosted and facilitated together with Aikiko Thomson-Guevara, President, Philippine Olympians Association, the 2023 National Summit of the Online Sports Leadership Program (OSLP), held at the campus of Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa. OSLP unites sports leaders and coaches to collectively shape Philippine sports by fostering collaboration and promoting Olympic values for community growth. Using organized and intentional Zoom learning experience, the program focuses on the experiences and narratives of Philippine Olympians. Participants from the sporting community are given the opportunity to gather, learn, and share their stories and aspirations. The 2023 summit was a productive and inspiring three days of “storytelling, networking and systems thinking,” in the words of co-organizer, Adrenaline Solutions. The major sponsors were the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation and Muaythai Association of the Philippines.

Featured header image: Attendees at the 2023 OSLP National Summit in Palawan State University.

Featured Video: The Bus of Dreams

Watch Coach Noli Ayo, PSC Mindanao Coordinator, deliver his closing remarks at the Laro’t Saya sa Cotabato City held at the Children’s Park, Cotabato City. He shares a story about his idol football coach and the impact and importance of sports leaders on the dreams, aspirations, and hopes of our athletes and coaches.

In his words, “Nawa’y maging tulay ang ating mga lider sa isports ang pagtibayin at patatagin ang mga pangarap ng ating mga atleta at coaches sa ating komunidad, hinde lang maging matagumpay sa buhay kundi maging mabuting tao sa kapwa at anak ng kanilang ciudad.”