SUMISIP, Basilan -- Participants to the Palarong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMMAA) should take advantage of the weeklong sports event to gain more friends and maintain the spirit of camaraderie.
This was the advice of former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who was invited as the keynote speaker during Monday's opening of the Palarong ARMMAA in this town's newly-built sports center in Barangay Buli-Buli.
Go skipped the event and was represented by actor Philip Salvador as he accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte, during the latter's visit to the victims and the blast site of Sunday’s twin bomb attacks in a church in Jolo, Sulu.
“This event is not only an opportunity to test your skills against your opponents. It is also a great venue to gain more friends. My advice for you is to take time to get to know their places, culture, lives, and more importantly educate yourselves in their beliefs and traditions,” Go told the athletes in his message read by Salvador.
Some 4,729 athletes from elementary and secondary levels are seeing action in this year’s Palarong ARMMAA, the last to be held since ARMM will be replaced soon by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Also seeing action are 600 regional technical officials.
“When you win, celebrate and be thankful to all your coaches, comrades and family who have supported you. And when you lose, let me remind you that you still have to be thankful for the experience and encourage yourself to be better next time,” Go said.
He told the young athletes that they should emulate the likes of Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, who is a product of years of training.
He said that also worth emulating are National Basketball Association (NBA) Stars Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry because by knowing them, the ARMMAA participants will learn that “winning and losing” made them the best players in the history of the NBA.
“The real power of sports comes from the valuable lessons it teaches us, to name a few, discipline, hard work, teamwork, and respect for others,” he added.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said Palarong ARMMAA has provided the region’s young athletes a venue to showcase their skills, discipline and sportsmanship.
Hataman said that their participation “has allowed them to learn valuable lessons in sports, as well as in life.”
“Sports bring us all together in peace, unity and further development. It is a gentle reminder that we are bigger than whatever atrocities that will come our way. That our collective resolve for peace and development did not waver despite the odds,” said lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., Department of Education-ARMM secretary.
“May this gathering of student-athletes, mentors, and division officials inspire everyone to live in harmony and peace,” Mitmug added, as he commended the leadership of all schools division for their participation in this year’s Palarong ARMMAA. (PNA)
