LAGAWE, Ifugao– Joining forces, Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam-o and other provincial government officials and their counterparts at the Department of Education (Deped) in this upland province are giving their all-out support for Ifugao’s finest and best athletes who are competing for top honors in this year’s edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet in Baguio City.
Ifugao’s so-called crème of the crop athletes are all set to test their mettle against the region’s leading sports warriors. Out to crowd them in the annual meet are entries from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province as well as Baguio City.
Twenty four events are spread out in nearly 17 venues. The CARAA meet is from February 4 to 8.
Up for grabs are gold, silver and bronze medals in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiard, boxing, chess, football, futsal, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling and wushu. Demonstration sports events include kadang-kadang and sanggul. Bocce has been classified as another special event. It shall be played at the Athletic Bowl and the Baguio City Special Education Center (SPED). Walkathon has been reportedly added to the track and field competition.
The crack Ifugao delegation is headed by Governor Mayam-o. Joining him is Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw and the 10 board members. The education sector is aptly and ably represented and spearheaded by Schools Division Superintendent of Ifugao Sally Ullalim.
Governor Mayam-o said the provincial government is developing a sports program that will become a template of a socially and culturally sensitive education.
“The story of our culture is one that is deeply rooted with values and tradition and whose center revolves around the aspirations of the young,” Mayam-o said in an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly.
The “participation of Ifugao’s young athletes will certainly serve as an inspiration everywhere in the province,” he added.
He hoped the province’s athletes, trainers and coaches could perform well in the CARAA meet.
“I’m a part of the delegation beaming with so much pride, but also with the huge sense of responsibility, and so I promise to do my best to live up to the standards set by the people in promoting their welfare,” Gov. Mayam-o said.
Among Mayam-o’s major contributions in the past were insights on training of athletes and donation of sports equipment in public elementary and public high schools. Mayam-o, also a lawyer, served as vice governor for two terms.
The provincial government, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, has provided support for the implementation of sports initiatives to enhance sports competitions outside of the province.
On the other hand, Vice Governor Gullitiw believes that sports development is an investment to elevate Ifugao’s sports program which is the right thing to do at this point of time.
At about this time in 2016, many were expecting a tougher competition. Problems besetting Ifugao’s youthful athletes such as lack of training, poor training facilities and inadequate funds were brought to the attention of the officialdom, and it was, incumbent upon the provincial government leadership, to take the appropriate and urgent measures to rectify said woes. Has something been really done about these.
Is it not possible to consider the fact that one has only to stare at the records and see why Ifugao is in a scary predicament. With a whole of 20 gold medals in the CARAA 2016 edition in Baguio City, Ifugao placed third overall. Just one gold medal separated Ifugao and Mountain Province. This is considered a barometer by many.
This early, perennial favorite Baguio City is bent to retain overall supremacy. Benguet is also expected to secure the next rank.
Familiarity with the venues’ grounds and conditions is a major factor in any competition. This is surely an advantage for the athletes of the nation’s summer capital. Venues include the Athletic Bowl, PFVR, Benguet Sports Center, SLU, Easter College, Baguio City High School Library, Melvin Jones, Baguio City High School Auditorium, UB, Convention Center, UC, Engineer’s Hill/DPS, Puyat Sports Complex, Camp 7, Lourdes Extension Covered Court and SPED.
Whatever the outcome, Ifugao’s best and finest athletes are all out to give their very best, for they are fascinated by many aspects of the sporting world. Highly motivated by their teachers, coaches, trainers, parents and DepEd officials, they are likely to show at competition time that engaging in sports despite heavy odds has become a way of life in this part of the nation.
Opening day program on February 4 shall be highlighted by a parade. The parade’s route is at upper Session Road, Harrison Road, Lake Drive and winds up at the Athletic Bowl.
Education Undersecretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo is the guest speaker. Other participants are Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and highly-placed Deped Baguio City Division officials.
Meanwhile, the Ifugao delegation is set to stay at the Mabini Elementary School. It used to stay at the Baguio City SPED Center.
Principal Carlos Canuto assured that the school is 100 percent prepared to play host to the visiting Ifugao delegation. The school is located at Barangay Salud Mitra.
The Ifugao delegation is scheduled to arrive in Baguio on February 1. Joining them are Provincial School Division Superintendent (PSDS) Anthony Gallangi and Sports Coordinator Guillermo Badangan. **By Anthony A. Araos
