COTABATO CITY – This year’s Palarong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMMAA) officially begins on Saturday in Parang town in Maguindanao province.
Around 5,000 participants from nine schools divisions, namely Maguindanao I and II, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur I and II, Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi – all under the regional Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) – will join this year’s athletic meet.
Dr. John Magno, DepEd-ARMM Secretary, said the Palaro promotes physical education specifically a well-rounded development of the youth in the region.
“Palarong ARMMAA hopes to develop physical skills, self-discipline and good sportsmanship among the athletes. It enhances total learning of the students,” Secretary Magno said.
Athletes, both from elementary and secondary levels, are competing in sports like basketball, volleyball, football, athletics, boxing, wushu, arnis, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery. The 2016 ARMMAA bears the theme ‘One Team, One Dream for the Bangsamoro People.’ The athletic meet will end on February 24.
Last year, Parang, under the Maguindanao II Schools Division, also hosted the Palarong ARMMAA. “The preparation of the Palaro involves tremendous amount of effort, resourcefulness, and the initiative of hundreds of dedicated sports leaders,” Bai Alibai Aliuden, Maguindanao II division superintendent said.
During last year’s Palarong ARMMAA, the DepEd divisions of Maguindanao II and Lamitan City bagged the over-all championship in the elementary and secondary levels, respectively.
Maguindanao II, which garnered a total of 30 gold medals, 16 silvers and 16 bronzes in the elementary level, was followed by the divisions of Tawi-Tawi, Lamitan City, Maguindanao I, Sulu, Lanao del Sur II, Basilan and Lanao del Sur I.
Meanwhile, Lamitan City garnered a total of 28 gold medals, 38 silvers and 33 bronzes in the secondary level. It was followed by the divisions of Maguindanao I, Maguindanao II, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur I and Lanao del Sur II.
ARMM finished 14th in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, two notches higher compared with its rank in the annual games held in 2014. The ARMM delegates bagged a total of 10 medals in the regular sports and three medals in the demonstration games last year.
The region’s taekwondo team grabbed two gold medals, two silvers and five bronzes while the athletics team bagged another gold medal. For the demonstration game, ARMM’s wushu team grabbed one silver and one bronze while the region’s beach volleyball took home the gold medal.
Some 500 athletes from the region are expected to join in the 2016 Palarong Pambansa to be held in Legazpi City, Albay from April 9 to 16. (Bureau of Public Information)
20
