Tagbilaran City, Bohol—Looks like the Cebu City Niños’ quest for its 19th overall championship in the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) will be seriously opposed by its rival, the Cebu Province.
Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province division superintendent Arden Monisit said he promised Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia that the biggest delegation—composed of more than 700 athletes—will not go home without the overall trophy.
“If last year we had done our best, this year, we will do better than our best,” Monisit said.
Monisit said that in the past regional meets, the medals that Cebu Province brought home have been increasing. Monisit said they hope this time they will be able to bring home the overall title.
To ensure that, Monisit said that they have done all the things needed to achieve that goal.
One such activity is the setting up of sports development in every municipality for a year-round training of the athletes.
“We are doing this so they can have continuous training, not just whenever there are big meets.”
The delegation had always finished second to Cebu City. Last year, they trailed Cebu City by only 287.75 points.
Ricky Ballesteros, DepEd Sports Committee Cebu City Division chairman, is undaunted and said he is very confident that Cebu City would be able to bring home its 19th overall trophy.
He said that he wants the Niños to pad their points but he has no doubts that they will still be able to bring home the overall title.
“I am very confident with our swimming, track field as well and ballgames teams,” Ballesteros said.
Events to be contested in the annual meet that officially gets underway today are archery, arnis, athletics, basketball, football, tennis, swimming, volleyball, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, gymnastics, softball, table tennis and taekwondo.
There will also be a sepak takraw for the secondary and sipa for the elementary.
Monisit said that Gov. Garcia has given them her full support and even increased their CVIRAA budget by 10 percent.
To further boost the spirits of their athletes, Monisit also announced to them last night that those who could clinch a medal will get an incentive from the school division.
OPENING CERMONIES
Meanwhile, hosts Bohol Province and Tagbilaran City put up a well-prepared 2-hour opening program capped off by a fireworks display.
Prior to the fireworks display, key officials of the DepEd and delegates released sky lanterns that made for a spectacular view.
Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto welcomed all delegates and encouraged them to aim high all the time and aim for excellence through sports.