AT THE HEART of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, stands a symbol of Filipino excellence — a place where determination meets discipline, and where dreams are molded into reality: the National Academy of Sports (NAS).
This year, NAS marks its 5th founding anniversary — having been officially established on June 9, 2020 — not merely as a passage of time, but as a celebration of purpose, perseverance, and national identity.
In just half a decade, NAS has grown into more than an institution for academic and athletic learning — it has become a true home of champions, laying the groundwork for the Philippines’ future in the global sports arena.
A Nation’s Investment
Through Republic Act No. 11470, NAS was founded in 2020 with a clear and ambitious mission: to train and nurture exceptional Filipino student-athletes who will one day compete on the world stage like the Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with republicasia, NAS Executive Director III Prof. Josephine Reyes shared that it all began as a dream — one that slowly materialized into reality after being signed into law during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Nagsimula ang NAS, actually, via RA. It is the Republic Act 11470. It started and it was signed into law on June 9 of 2020. That’s why we are celebrating our five years [this month],” Reyes said.
For many years, the Philippines has seen exceptional local talent emerge in less popular sports, often excelling despite having minimal access to proper training, facilities, and academic support.
Fortunately, NAS was established to transform that reality — providing promising athletes with the opportunities and resources to thrive not only in competition, but also as well-rounded and responsible members of society.
“For sports, we have eight focused sports right now. We are offering aquatics, athletics, judo, taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, gymnastics and weightlifting,” Reyes shared.
“Meanwhile, the number of students for this coming school year, we have 240 student-athletes enrolled. That covers students from Grade 7 to 11,” the executive director went on to break down.
Handpicked Talents
In addition, the institution embodies a vision where academics and athletics go hand in hand — not in conflict, but in harmony — a synergy that NAS has continuously refined to this day.
At the heart of NAS’s mission lies its commitment to raising the Philippines’ stature in international sports. It functions as a national hub for training gifted young athletes with world-class potential.
In a separate interview, Rea Mendoza Lingat, the institution’s Deputy Chief, emphasized NAS’ dedication to nurturing its emerging talents, ensuring they receive comprehensive support in all areas — though the journey began with its fair share of challenges.
“The law was established in 2020, but it was pandemic, so they only had online classes in 2021,” the deputy chief shared. “They only started staying in the dorm January of 2024, so last year lang.”
Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, NAS accelerated its programs in the years that followed. Determined to ensure nationwide representation, the academy made extensive searches across the country to find the next generation of standout athletes.
“Those 240 student-athletes came from all over the country. As in from Ilocos Norte to Pagadian City,” she said.
Realizing The Vision
Meanwhile, NAS has been highly thorough in its selection process for student-athletes. Aside from carefully handpicking talents, the academy also holds multiple try-out sessions throughout the year, all guided by high-level criteria.
“Podium finishers of Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy get special admissions, but if you’re not a medalist, you go through physical and sports assessments, like beep test, even anthropometrics,” Medoza said.
“We go straight to Palarong Pambansa, we don’t go through regional meets or local meets. Hindi ba ‘yung iba dumadaan or lumalaban pa ng CLRAA, EVRAA. We don’t, because these are elite athletes with elite skills.”
“We are like a separate region, they only represent NAS. There’s Regions 1 to 17, we are the 18th delegation. But don’t expect us to be the champion for Palarong Pambansa even if we’re NAS, kasi sila lahat ng sports mayroon sila,” she added.
As the National Academy of Sports marks its fifth year, it reflects on a steadily growing list of accomplishments. Its student-athletes have set new national records, represented the country in international competitions, and served as an inspiration to their fellow youth.
Over the years, the academy has forged meaningful collaborations with national sports bodies, government institutions, and private sector partners—establishing a strong network of support for its programs and scholars.
Yesterday, the Pay It Forward event brought added momentum to this mission, led by republicasia’s President and CEO, Hon. Bran Reluao, who also serves as the newly-appointed Special Envoy to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Alongside him were partners from iAcademy, GMA Kapuso Foundation, and Sparkle GMA Artist Center, all of whom visited the NAS campus to engage with its community.
This initiative was further strengthened by vital support from the public sector, particularly the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Education, who played instrumental roles in bringing the partnership to life.
Through it all, NAS continues to foster a close-knit environment — a true second home for student-athletes where they learn, train, and grow as one. Their journey is not just personal but part of a larger mission: building a national identity grounded in sporting excellence.
The academy remains committed to innovation and development, continually upgrading its facilities, integrating emerging technologies, and improving digital education systems to stay aligned with global standards.
