MAGUINDANAO – The region’s young athletes are confident they could compete favorably in the national competitions this year as the Palarong ARMMAA (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association) 2018 formally kicked off on Monday in Upi town’s Nuro Central Elementary School.
Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., Education Secretary, formally declared the athletic meet open. Themed ‘Transformed and Productive ARMMians,’ the meet focuses on the active development and transformation of the region’s young athletes.
Ricco Jame Teraytay, 16, and Andrei John Merano, 12, both delegates from Maguindanao II division and Taekwondo-gold medalists in the Palarong Pambansa 2017 held in Antique, said they are proud and honored to again represent their divisions. They are optimistic they will again win and bring home medals from the Palarong Pambansa this year scheduled in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur from April 16 to 20.
“We will do our best to win because we want to represent ARMM in the coming Palarong Pambansa. Aside from all the preparations such as training, we also need self-discipline and prayers for us to reach our goals,” Teraytay added.
“To all the participants of Palarong ARMMAA 2018, I wish you all the best for the upcoming games. May this experience guide you through your journey in becoming not only a good student, a better athlete, but later on, a productive citizen of our country and a proud Bangsamoro,” Sec. Mitmug said in his opening remarks.
More than 5,000 participants, comprising of student-athletes, DepEd officials such as division heads, teachers, and technical officers from the different provinces of ARMM, attended the event. “They gather here not only to display their physical abilities but also to show us that through sports there can be peace and common aspiration for our ARMM youth,” Sec. Mitmug said.
The different delegations came from the nine school divisions of the region namely Maguindanao I, Maguindanao II, Lanao del Sur I, Lanao del Sur II, Marawi City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Lamitan City.
The week-long activity will run until February 16, Friday. Athletes both from elementary and secondary schools will compete in the following sports: archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiard, boxing, chess, football, futsal, sepak takraw , swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wushu, and wrestling.
The emerging winners from those events will proceed and compete at the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Sur. The Palarong ARMMAA is an annual athletic event of the DepEd ARMM involving student-athletes from the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (Bureau of Public Information)
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