The newly opened Sulu Provincial Sports Complex and Dormitory, Sulu. Image Source: Nursidar Mukatill Photography.

The Grand Opening took place on June 24, 2025 and is part of the joint civil-military initiatives to promote peace in the region. The Philippine Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido was accompanied by key Army staff, Cabinet officials, international delegates comprised of foreign ambassadors from Brunei, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, along with Foreign Armed Forces Attachés (FAFA) from Vietnam, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Turkey. As Lt. Gen. Galido said: "This visit is a celebration of peace and potential." This sports complex shows the potential for growth and change in the region.

Army Chief Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido joins the opening ceremony of the Sulu Provincial Sports Complex in Patikul, Sulu on June 24, 2025. Image Source: SSg Lopez/Office of the Chief Public Affairs/ Philippine Army

"This visit is a celebration of peace and potential."

A Variety of Activities Offered

The sport complex offers plenty of space to get active inside and outside - whether you want to run or walk along the rubberized running track, play table tennis with a friend or make new friends in a group game, test your defense in the boxing ring, kick the ball on the football field or engage in a volleyball tournament. This is a space for people of Sulu to not only get active - but to be a part of the community. This is something that the Vice Governor Abdusakur M. Tan saw for himself, when he visited the Sulu Provincial Sports Complex, watching a Zumba community dance.

"It is a beautiful and welcoming space where our community comes together to get healthy"

The potential is manifold for the community. The opening ceremony and visits to the other development projects highlighted the importance of embracing sport in the communities as potential for growth. Sport is the perfect catalyst to foster community and peace-building, providing a neutral platform to get together. Learning the steps to a Zumba dance, how to correctly throw a handball or running alongside each other, connects people. When you move together, you create a common language and common goals. Shared experiences help to overcome differences and to build trust. Sport is not just good for health, it also teaches essential life skills, such as teamwork, discipline, communication or respect. And respectful communication is a crucial aspect in peace-building efforts. Team sports are not just fun, but losing can lead to frustrations. But this offers opportunities, by creating a safe place for open communication and finding solutions together as a team.

Zumba Community Dance at the new Sulu Provincial Sports Complex and Dormitory in Patikul. Source Image: Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan Facebook page. July 27, 2025.

Sport as a Catalyst for Peace

Sport can be a catalyst for peace efforts and the creation of stability, build in understanding and respect. One example of how sport can foster peace efforts is the Football for Peace Movement Inc., which has its roots in Sulu in 2011, when young local kids asked members of the Marine Corps to teach them how to play football. The initiative grew over the years, teaching the kids not just how to play, but also important aspects in life, like self-discipline, sportsmanship, fair play, and friendship, even between members of different groups. As the initiative's slogan says "Our goal is peace, and our way is football. This is your Football for Peace." The initiative wants every child in rural areas to have a chance to participate, as the co-founder Col. Stephen Cabanlet said "Football [is] becoming an instrumental force in overcoming conflict and bringing communities together in unity for peace and development especially in Mindanao." The initiative developed educational and mentorship programs, and organized tournaments in the region. A highlight was the Australian Futsal team visit for a Mindanao Island tour in 2024. Initiatives like these are what leaders should focus their support and efforts on for the development of the region, to foster peace through sports.

"Football [is] becoming an instrumental force in overcoming conflict and bringing communities together in unity for peace and development especially in Mindanao."

The newly opened complex already caught the attention of football enthusiasts in the Philippines, with the Pinoy Football PH Facebook page congratulating the Province of Sulu for their newly opened grass football pitch: "It’s the perfect ground for kids, teams, training sessions, and future football festivals. Can’t wait to hear stories and see more photos of football enthusiasts in Sulu enjoying the beautiful game. Here's to inspiring the next generation of football stars from the province!"

Sport can be a great catalyst for peace-building towards growing a strong community in Sulu. Young people can build their confidence and gain a sense of belonging, which can steer them toward positive engagement in the community, breaking down social and cultural barriers. But sport events do not just connect people on the field, but also everyone involved on the sidelines, at practice or during tournaments, creating bonds and memories. A strong community is good for peace-initiatives in the region, which is known for its instability. And community efforts (and not militancy) is the way forward to a stable future. And the Sulu Provincial Sports Complex and Dormitory has the opportunity to organize sport events and bring people together who want to see their community thrive.

"It’s the perfect ground for kids, teams, training sessions, and future football festivals. Can’t wait to hear stories and see more photos of football enthusiasts in Sulu enjoying the beautiful game. Here's to inspiring the next generation of football stars from the province!"

Volleyball game at the new Sulu Provincial Sports Complex and Dormitory in Patikul.

Source Image: Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan Facebook page. July 27, 2025.

REFERENCES

Krafchek, A. (2012, December). Sports for peacebuilding: The basics. Beyond Intractability. https://www.beyondintractability.org/

Football for Peace Movement Inc. (2025). Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/

Province of Sulu (2025). Grand opening: Provincial sports complex and dormitory/Provincial Capitol Grounds. Facebook post June 24, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/

Philippine Army – Alakdan Division. (2023, October 15). READ || Alakdan Division, LGU initiates Football for Peace: Promote inclusive access to sports. Camp Bautista, Jolo, Sulu: Philippine Army. https://army.mil.ph/

Philippine Army. (June 24, 2025). Philippine Army chief, diplomats, and key government officials visit Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to promote peace and development: A new perspective. Philippine Army. https://army.mil.ph/

Pinoy Football PH (2025). Facebook post July 17, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/

Santamaria, C. (June 22, 2012). Football for peace in Sulu. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/

Sulu Provincial Tourism Office (2025). Facebook post July 19, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/

SunStar (July 10, 2022). Task force holds Football for Peace in 2 Sulu towns. SunStar. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/