CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- Some 11,391 delegates from the 20 school divisions in this region plunged into action as the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meet 2018 kicked off Monday at the Bulacan Sports Complex and other allied venues here.
Senators Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, and Joel Villanueva, together with Department of Education (DepEd) and provincial officials headed by Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel R. Fernando led the opening ceremony Sunday afternoon and welcomed the delegates in the annual regional sports meet that aims to promote sportsmanship, good values and camaraderie among student-athletes.
The delegates are from City of Angeles; City of Mabalacat; City of San Fernando; Province of Pampanga; City of Malolos; City of Meycauayan; City of San Jose Del Monte; Province of Bulacan; City of Balanga; Province of Bataan; City of Cabanatuan; City of Gapan; Science City of Munoz; City of San Jose; Province of Nueva Ecija; City of Tarlac; Province of Tarlac; City of Olongapo; Province of Zambales and Province of Aurora.
Pacquiao, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports and as a world-renowned athlete himself, advised the student-athletes to have discipline, focus, and resilience in order to achieve their goals.
“The next world-class athlete might come from here. It is possible that the new Manny Pacquaio is here too. And it is likewise possible that here is the one who will become gold medalist in Southeast Asian Games or in Olympics because with God, all things are possible,” the world boxing champion said.
Likewise, Angara shared he was elated for having authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act” which raised the incentives to be received by athletes winning in international events.
“Like Hidilyn Diaz, an Olympic silver medalist and Jeric Taladro, who participated in the Palarong Pambansa 2016 without hands and feet, you can also succeed and elevate the level of CLRAA amid all the challenges and hardships that you will encounter,” Angara said.
For his part, Alvarado declared that not only the province of Bulacan but also the whole Central Luzon delegation will try its best to bring home the bacon in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa.
“We should strive to make the CLRAA Meet splendid and eventful and consider this historic and momentous gathering not only for the sole purpose of competition but instead to celebrate and commemorate the greatness of human spirit which, after all, is the very core of all sports competition,” he said.
The CLRAA Meet 2018 which is anchored on the theme “Broadening Youth’s Horizon through Sports Competition” was made possible through the joint efforts of the Provincial Government of Bulacan through its Provincial Youth, Sports, Public Employment Services Office and the Department of Education Schools Division Office in Bulacan.
The sports competition will be held from February 26 to March 2 in different playing venues here.
The sports events include athletics, arnis, archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, futsal, billiards, and soccer. (PNA)
