If there’s one reason why athletes from the Visayas are improving in their respective fields, it is the Milo Little Olympics.
According to Dr. Marcial Degamo, Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7’s chief on quality assurance and accountability division, the annual school-based multi-sporting event has become a good training ground for young and aspiring athletes.
“Nasayod ko nga dako kayo ug tampo sa DepEd Sports ang Milo Little Olympics kay dako kaayo ug improvement atong mga athletes,” Degamo said in his speech during the grand opening of the 16th edition of the Visayas Regional Finals yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.
“In fact, dako kaayo ta ug improvement sa Palarong Pambansa this year compared to the other year. So dako kaayo ko ug pasalamat sa Nestle ug Milo.”
Degamo stood in for DepEd 7 Regional Director Dr. Recaredo Borgonia, who was not able to make it to yesterday’s opening ceremonies.
Taking cue from Degamo’s speech, Milo Sports Executive Patricio Goc-Ong encouraged all the athletes to do their best in this meet to continue improving for the sake of the Visayas’ three-peat bid in the upcoming National Finals slated Nov. 12, 13 and 14 in Linggayen, Pangasinan.
“We must not think that we are the champions,” said Goc-Ong in his opening remarks. “We must have a mind set of being the challenger in this great endeavor. This will make us more determined to win.”
Team Visayas topped the first two National Finals and a third straight crown would give them the coveted Perpetual Trophy.
RECORD FIELD
This year’s Regional Finals drew a record 6,000 athletes who will vie in 13 sporting events at various venues in Cebu City.
The number of participants increased this year with the inclusion of teams from Bacolod and Iloilo bringing the number of high school contingents to 118 and the elementary teams to 124. Last year, some 4,200 athletes competed, said chief organizer and Visayas Delegation Head Ricky Ballesteros.
Yesterday’s opening was highlighted by the search for best muse and cheer dance competitions.
Mambaling Elementary School’s Jonabelle Juliano and Gazini Christiana Jadi Gonddos of the Thrice Admirable Montessori School emerged winners in the best muse pageant.
Rohini Rozzane Doronila from the San Isidro Parish School and Nicole Marie Wong from the Cebu City Science High School rounded off the top three in the secondary division while Vanessa Kaye Parame of Monterey School and Margrette Ellaine Matin-ao of University of Cebu (UC) made up the elementary top three.
The University of San Carlos (USC) dethroned Colegio Dela Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) in the cheerdance competition of the secondary division while Cebu City Central Elementary School topped the elementary division.
USC also bagged the Best in Saludo award in the elementary and secondary divisions.
Cebu City Sports Commissioner Eduard Hayco declared the official opening of the meet, which was supposed to be done by Cebu City Vice Mayor Augustus “Joy” Young.
The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters are looking to continue their 15-year reign in secondary division while USC-BED will defend its elementary division title for the first time.