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ABF Directors Meeting 18 Nov 2006 |
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About Us |
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Architects’ Badminton Federation By Archt. E. Mitch Begonia, UAP
“Badminton was just an excuse!”, that’s what founder Archt. Cathy Carunungan said when a group of architects and friends decided to play badminton one Saturday morning. Unknowingly, it was a get together that would turn into something magnificent. That’s how the Architects’ Badminton Federation was conceived. Meetings were held, resources tapped and a managing group pooled, the birth of ABF was made official with a launch on August 2, 2003.
The turn out in the launch was astonishing. It attracted architects from all demographic profiles and this encouraged the board and the sponsors to make the Saturday meet into a regular affair. This regular meet has grown into a sponsored 6 court, Saturday morning and Wednesday evening meet. The meets are alternately held between Centro Atletico in Quezon City and The Zone in Makati.
A couple of months after, with the ABF relentlessly growing; the first ever tournament was held. Dubbed the 1st ABF Tournament it drew around 70 participants, who were stunned to learn that aside from the splendid prizes for the tournament and raffle winners, the major prize in the tournament was an all expense paid trip to Bangkok, Thailand. And I can attest that it really is all expense paid. All you have to do is show up. This fabulous and sought after prize is still a current part of the ABF Series of Tournaments.
Fueled by the impressive success of ABF in its entirety, its maiden year saw a total of four major tournaments, a constant growth in its membership base, and an increase in sponsored courts and days in its weekly meets. Now on its fourth year, ABF has consistently run its Annual Series of Tournaments namely: ABF Annual Tournament, ABF President’s Cup, and United Suppliers of the Philippines (USP) Cup. ABF has also sanctioned numerous tournaments held by United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) chapters.
The ABF Series of Tournaments are always capped with superb prizes for tournament and raffle winners ranging from original branded rackets and accessories to the good old reliable, cash. Other advantages you get are the fantastic give away items during these tournaments. From the compulsory tournament shirts to a whole series of ABF bags (Racket, laundry and shoe bags). And of course, cool and useful items in between. Tournament shirts have been so abundant that the Board of Directors created a shirt design and tournament logo competition. Organizers were running out of ideas for the designs. A rule that the winning logo will be the permanent logo for that particular tournament is followed. This was first implemented with the ABF President’s Cup 2006 logo.
From that small get together in 2003 the ABF has grown into a constantly developing organization. Diverse as the membership is in terms of demography, ABF is united in the end by the Profession and by the Sport. Having a current membership base of almost 300, the need to update the membership and produce clear cut guidelines has emerged. Targeting the next Tournament, the 2007 USP Badminton Cup in March as its deadline, the Board of Directors will ratify a set of membership guidelines.
As exciting as the ABF currently is, ABF strives to further improve its organization to further the cause of the practice of the architecture through the sport of badminton. Finding that median where architecture and badminton meet. ABF sees itself as a self sustaining structured organization providing architects, industry partners and badminton enthusiasts alike with first-rate services, tournaments and prizes. Seeking improvement each and every chance it gets.
All the activities of ABF have been made possible with the help and dedication of a lot of industry partners. Boysen Paints, who have been around since the conception and is ABF’s mega sponsor. The annual Bangkok trip sponsor Kenzai Outdoor Paving Tiles. Unitec Pipes and Fittings, Kuysen Enterprises and HCG Bathroom Fixtures have been loyal partners early on. Moldex Products, Klaas Coatings and Hunter Douglas are some of the young and avid partners. Tournament information and ABF news can be read at www.arkispecs.com/abf-tournaments/index.htm. This web page is sponsored by www.arkispecs.com
The ABF is currently headed by Archt. Ching Roxas as the President and is assisted alongside by the Chairman of the Board and founder, Archt. Cathy Carunungan. Supporting the president is: Archt. Mitch Begonia as VP Tournaments, Archt. Edna Lim as VP-Programs, Archt. Albert Reyes as Secretary, Archt. Lora Rivera as Treasurer, Archt. Roy Villarosa as Ex Officio, Archt. Don De Guzman as Director, Archt. Mich De Guzman as Director, Archt. Teboh Ramirez as Director, Archt. Weesen Kua as Director, Archt. Rudi Limbaga as Director, Archt. Joey Mendoza as Director, Archt. Jericho Adriano as Director, Archt. Rex Tamase and Ms. Joy Delos Reyes as Director.
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Architects’ badminton federation |
