Hardwork, disciplineUNDERSCORED BY ZUBIRI, MARAÑON AT MEET OPENING

Governor Alfredo G. Maranon, Jr. and former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday underscored the values of sportsmanship, hardwork and discipline at the opening of the 2012 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet at the sprawling Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. Speaking before more than 3,800 student-athletes and technical officials coming from host Negros Occidental and the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras, Maranon, who is batting for the province’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2013 edition, also cited efforts by school sports officials for the conduct of world-class competitions.GREATER DISCIPLINE World-class sports tournaments, he said, promote greater discipline. “If only I will be allowed to decide, I want all of you to win. But my dear athletes, it’s not in winning but how you play the Game,” stressed Maranon, who was met with a thunderous applause by an estimated crowd of 18,000. Athletic delegations entered the eight-lane track oval in style

Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri addresses a jam-packed Panaad crowd at the regional Palaro Opening yesterday; inset, from left, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia. (Andy Alvarez photos)

for the parade that showcased this year’s WVRAA Meet mascot, Migo Sulog, highlighting and promoting the province’s thriving cock breeding industry, who was first in line followed by the contingents from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and archrival Iloilo.SPORTS: A UNIFYING FORCE Zubiri, who traces his roots in Negros Occidental, cited the country’s colorful sports icons the likes of Cong. Manny Pacquiao of Saranggani Province, hardcourt sensation Chris Tiu of Gilas and local basketball star James Yap of Bacolod City and Escalante City, and Philippine Azkals’ Chieffy Caligdong of Barotac Nuevo. “Their victory is not because of sheer luck but a product of long years of hardwork, discipline and experience in the sport they have embraced,” Zubiri, himself a football fanatic in his younger days, pointed out. Sports, Zubiri continued, helps build a nation and is vital in molding discipline, promoting love and respect for one’s self.

“Sports help unite a country and its people,” added Zubiri, stressing that as experienced during Pacquaio’s many fights abroad, the PNP reports

HARDwORK, DISCIPLINE>page 2

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WVRAA MEET 2011 CHAMPION TEAMS BY EVENTSECONDARY LEvEL

Archery (Boys) AntiqueArchery (Girls) AntiqueArnis (Boys) IloiloArnis (Girls) IloiloAthletics (Boys) IloiloAthletics (Girls) IloiloBadminton (Boys) Negros OccidentalBadminton (Girls) Negros OccidentalBaseball Negros OccidentalBasketball Negros OccidentalBoxing Negros OccidentalChess (Boys) IloiloChess (Girls) Negros OccidentalFootball IloiloSoftball Negros OccidentalSwimming (Boys) Negros OccidentalSwimming (Girls) Negros OccidentalTable Tennis (Boys) IloiloTable Tennis (Girls) Negros OccidentalTennis (Girls) Negros OccidentalVolleyball (Boys) IloiloVolleyball (Girls) Negros Occidental

zero crime incidence, while hostilities among rebels and government troops are also put to a halt.STRIvE AND EXCEL Lawyer Roni Esguerra, who delivered the inspirational message in behalf of DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, congratulated the WVRAA Meet organizing committee and host province. “We strongly support all sporting events that are aimed at developing the physical and mental skills of our students…By its very nature, sport is about participation. It is about inclusion and citizenship. It stands for human values such as respect for the opponent, acceptance of binding rules, teamwork and fairness, all of which are principles which are also contained in the Charter of the United Nations,” Esguerra underscored. Western Visayas governors present at the WVRAA Meet opening were Arthur Defensor, Iloilo; Victor Tanco, Capiz, and Carlito Marquez, Aklan. Antique was represented by Vice Governor Rosie Guimamay, while SP Member Wilma Delira represented Guimaras.

ELEmENTARY LEvEL

Arnis (Boys) IloiloArnis (Girls) IloiloAthletics (Boys) IloiloAthletics (Girls) Negros OccidentalBadminton (Boys) Negros OccidentalBadminton (Girls) Negros OccidentalBaseball Negros OccidentalBasketball IloiloBoxing Negros OccidentalChess (Boys) IloiloChess (Girls) AklanFootball IloiloSipa IloiloSoftball Negros OccidentalSwimming (Boys) Negros OccidentalSwimming (Girls) Negros OccidentalTable Tennis (Boys) IloiloTable Tennis (Girls) Negros OccidentalTaekwondo (Boys) IloiloTaekwondo (Girls) Negros OccidentalTennis (Boys) Negros OccidentalTennis (Girls) Negros OccidentalVolleyball (Boys) IloiloVolleyball (Girls) Negros Occidental

NOTE: Negros Occidental took 12 of 22 team titles offered in the secondary division and 13 titles out of 24 in the elementary level, to bring home the overall championships during the WVRAA Meet 2011 in Iloilo City. Archrival Iloilo placed second; Aklan, third; Antique, fourth; Capiz, fifth, and Guimaras, sixth in the elementary contest. In the secondary games, Negros Occidental was trailed by Iloilo and Aklan, while Capiz, Antique and Guimaras complete the six-team regional meet cast.*

Hardwork, discipline...From page 1

NEGROS’ PALARO 2013 BID Negros Occidental, rarely, is the only province in the country that has hosted the most number of Palaro stagings—five times—including the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association (BPISAA) Games, which trace its roots in 1948.

Negros Occidental was venue of the BPISAA Games’ 23rd edition in 1971 followed by the Palaro’s maiden outing in 1974 (25th) at the Paglaum Sports Complex and the 1979 (30th) staging. The school-based sports conclave returned to the province during its Centennial Edition in 1998 (44th) and the 2000 Millenium Games (45th). In between those years, the province,

considered as the emerging sports capital in this side of the Philippines, had hosted the 23rd edition of the 11-nation, 20-day Southeast Asian Games in 2005, the inaugurals and succeeding Batang Pinoy Games, CHED Games, University Games, Philippine National Games, Sanya Samakki ASEAN Age-Group Swimming Championships, international water polo at the Panaad Olympic pool, World Chess Olympiad, world title boxing bouts, Asian level schools athletics competitions and women’s football, among others, on top of the regular regional and national softball events, golf and triathlon tournaments. DepEd Regional Director Mildred Garay declared the 2012 WVRAA Meet officially open after Dapitan Palaro gold medalists Richee Joy Cabanyog (discus throw) and Dhessa Mae Arino (badminton) lit the urn and led the oath of amateurism, respectively. Tournament director Julieta Braga, head of DepEd’s schools sports department, led the oath of officiating officials. Competing student-athletes, officials and their chaperones were treated to a night of fireworks display, cultural fare showcasing the festivals and the sights and sounds of Negros Occidental after the opening rites.

Zubiri: Sports is a unifying force* (Mymy Alagaban photo) Mymy Alagaban photo

3,800 in WVRAA Meet More than 3,800 athletes and cultural events entries, coaches, chaperones, trainers, delegation officials and technical officials are attending the 2012 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet scheduled at Panaad Park in Bacolod City March 12-16. The athletes include participants in the Special Games –events for the in-school visually-impaired, mentally challenged and amputee students. Host Negros Occidental is fielding a 672-member delegation while last year’s host, Iloilo, has 595. The Aklan delegation has 562 members, followed by Antique with 536, Capiz with 474 and Guimaras with 394.Games will be officiated and supervised by 586 officials. Athletes total 1,980 – with 1,005 competing in the secondary division and 975 in the elementary level. Aklan has actually the most number of grade school athletes – 176 in all – followed by Iloilo with 175 and Capiz 171. Host Negros Occidental is represented by 169 elementary division athletes while Guimaras and Antique have 143 and 141, respectively. In the high school competition, Iloilo and Negros Occidental are represented by 214 and 212 athletes, respectively, with Aklan fielding 191, Antique 183, Guimaras with 120 and Capiz with 85. Thirty-three athletes are donning the Negros Occidental jersey in special events. Capiz has 26 special events athletes, while Iloilo has 24, Aklan 21 and Guimaras 4. Antique is not seeing action in the special games. Each province will be represented by 25 entries each in the cultural competitions.

52 titles, 642 medals at stake Fifty-two titles and 642 medals are at stake in various sporting events the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet which opened Monday. Twenty-eight of the 52 coveted titles are in the secondary level while the remaining 24 are contested in the elementary level. Nearly one-third of the total 642 medals are being contested in two events – swimming, where 108 golds are at stake in the elementary and secondary categories both in boys and girls’ divisions, and athletics, which offers 88 golds. The 52 titles at stake will be

Cultural contests on Wednesday The regional Palaro cultural competition will be held at the St. La Salle Coliseum on Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The competition – to be held in both elementary and secondary levels -- includes English and Filipino declamation, Filipino classical and pop song vocal solo and folk dance.

Special Games included in Palaro One hundred and fifty in-school children will see action in the regional Palaro’s Special Games scheduled at the Panaad Park. Organizers said events are scheduled as part of the three-day athletics calendar of the meet which will start on Tuesday. Events are divided into three categories – for the visually-impaired, the mentally challenged and amputees – all in the boys’ category. For the visually impaired, the events are athletics (100-m, standing long jump and

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shot put) Three events are lined up for the mentally-challenged group – athletics (100-m, 200-m, 400-m, 4x100-m relay, standing long jump and shot put), boccia and swimming (50-m backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke). The amputees’ competition is divided into above-knee and below-knee amputation, both single and double with events slated in shot put and 50-m swimming – in backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke events.

Impromptu speaking is also included but only in the secondary level. Scheduled in the morning competition starting at 8 o’clock are English declamation and vocal solo both in the elementary and secondary levels, and impromptu speech. Calendared starting 1 p.m. are Filipino declamation, pop singing and folk dance, also in both elementary and secondary levels.

contested in the boys and girls’ high school and elementary divisions in arnis, athletics, badminton, chess, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball as well as in elementary and secondary boys and secondary girls’ basketball; Elementary and secondary boys’ football, elementary and secondary boys’ boxing, elementary boys’ sipa, high school boys’ sepak takraw elementary and secondary boys’ baseball, elementary boys and girls’ softball and high school boys’ special games, where 44 medals are at stake.

HIGHLIGHTS. The jam-packed crowd at the regional Palaro opening yesterday at Panaad; center, DepEd Regional Director Mildred Garay presents Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. a plaque of appreciation for hosting the Games; and right, the start of the torch relay.* (Mymy Alagaban photos)

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Photo credits: Andy Alvarez, Mymy Alagaban & Ronnie Baldonado

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Panaad booths open for Games Regional Palaro Meet visitors will be treated not only to five days of sports extravaganza but also to a taste of the Negrense way of life with the opening of most of the theme booths of the local governments of the province during the games. The booths are open to the public during the annual summer Panaad sa Negros Festival. They showcase the historical, arts and culture agricultural, trade, tourism and industrial attractions and opportunities of the 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental. About 20 of the 32 booths will be open to visitors during the Palaro as the others are doing rehabilitation work for their operations during the 19th Panaad Festival, which will be held on April 9-15. The booths were constructed along with the Panaad Stadium in 1998 in time for the hosting of the Centennial Palarong

Pambansa. The whole Panaad Park sits on a 25-ha. area, which is now widely-known as “the country’s only sports stadium within a forest”, being surrounded by eucaplyptus plants.

The booths area also open during major international events held at the Panaad Park, including the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, which drew a daily crowd of more than 20,000 sports lovers.

The themed booths at the Panaad Park. (Andy Alvarez photos)

What they say...

“So far, our quarters are okay. We just have few problems with our CR needs. Our water

supply is adequate.” Carlos Marcelino, Chairman,

General Services, Antique Delegation

“Mayad man diri ah. Malimpyo. I hope I can break my clockings.”

Joneza Mie Sustituedo, Iloilo Athlete (Palarong Pambansa 2010 & 2011

Record Breaker, 1,500-m and 800-m)

“Okay ang facilities namin, wala namang hassle, at maganda naman ang pag-welcome

sa amin.”-Federico Mananis,

Lawn Tennis Trainor, Aklan

“We hope our girls team can reach the finals. We have bigger and taller players this year.”

-Marianito Ga, Trainor,Elementary Volleyball Girls’ Team, Guimaras

“This is my first time in Bacolod. Parang nakakatakot. Okay lang naman ang aming accommodation.”

“The principals of our hosts, ABES 1 and ABES 2, are very accommodating and they are providing all our needs. We’re happy to be back here, which was our billets, too, five years ago. We are impressed by their hospitality. It’s nice to see our hosts again.”

-Dr. Ma. Janelyn Fundal, Education Supervisor, PE & School Sports, Iloilo

-Camille Buensalido, Aklan Lawn Tennis

“We hope we can improve our overall standing last year.” Nenfa Acolentaba,

Mess Official, Capiz Delegation

“I hope to have a fun experience. Our billeting rooms here are okay.”

Nichi Pol Dalupines, 16,Lawn Tennis Player, Antique

NegOcc. to bid for Palaro 2013

PROVINCE EYED AS PSC REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER Regional Director Mildred Garay of the Department of Education and provincial sports coordinator Angel Verdeflor echoed Negros Occidental’s bid to host the 2013 Palarong Pambansa. At a press conference held Sunday at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel, Dr. Garay, a Negrense, disclosed that the province’s hosting of the 2012 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet is a prelude to a bigger event next year, which is the national Palaro. “We will start with making the WVRAA Meet (hosting) as a showcase. Our experience here will perfect our 2013 Palaro bid. With a unified regional effort, we certainly stand bigger chances, on top of the all-out support of Gov. Alfredo Maranon, Jr.,” the DepEd executive told Bacolod sports scribes. Also at the presscon organized by Provincial Information Office head Karen Dinsay were Rizalino Tortosa, schools division superintendent, Negros Occidental; Ma. Gemma Ledesma, schools division superintendent of Bacolod City; Julieta P. Braga, regional head of the DepEd school sports events and concurrent tournament director; heads of delegations of the provinces of Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Aklan, as well as Romeo Sison, Jr., of the local tournament management group, and world boxing champion Donnie Nietes of Murcia town. Themed, “Sports: Honor and Unity Transcend Victory”, the six-province, five-

day regional athletic conclave attracted more than 3,800 athletes and technical officials, who were presented at a parade at the opening rites Monday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. The education executive pointed out that unlike previous Palaro bids, the DepEd under Secretary Armin Luistro has changed the rules in choosing the games’ host with the technical on committee now putting more premium on the capabilities of local government units to provide related infrastructure and event venues of international standards. Dr. Garay also rallied provincial schools superintendents in Region 6, who serve as heads of their respective WVRAA Meet contingents, to support Negros Occidental’s Palaro 2013 hosting bid. Verdeflor, meanwhile, disclosed

that the province’s hosting of this year’s regional meet is a strong statement that Gov. Maranon has placed sports development as part of his priority agenda. The Governor, he said, has been clear in his directive that “we make sports as a showcase”. “We have already organized the

From left: Julieta Braga, Western Visayas Tournament Manager; Dr. Mildred Garay, DepEd Regional Director; Dr. Rizalino Tortosa, Neg. Occ. Schools Superintendent; and Executive Assistant to the Governor Angel Verdeflor during the presson of WVRAA Meet 2012 at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel, Sunday. (Mymy Alagaban photo)

WVRAA Meet delegation representatives during the press conference.*(M. Alagaban photos)

sports coordinators of the different LGUs…the bigger task really is winning the Palaro bid. We are also aiming to win the overall Palaro crown against closest rival National Capital Region,” Verdeflor added. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Ricardo Garcia, also a Negrense, registered as well his full support to the Capitol’s Palaro 2013 bid. Verdeflor said he met with Garcia recently during the PSC-initiated Sports Summit in Manila, and the country’s top sports honcho readily assured the Governor of his agency’s support. He also revealed that Negros Occidental, with its existing world-class sports facilities, is also bidding as the Regional Training Center being eyed by the PSC and the National Sports Associations (NSAs).*