Biggest annual Cordi sports event kicks off

CARAA

By ValynSabado and Georaloy I. Palao-ay

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet kicked off here yesterday with hundreds of student athletes and top regional officials in attendance.

Winners will represent the Cordillera in the Palarong Pambansa.

The opening parade symbolizing camaraderie and friendship between competitors started 8 a.m. at SM Grounds, Luneta Hill where representatives of Abra were first of the seven delegations to walk the parade followed by Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Benguet, Mt. Province, and lastly the city of Baguio.

The main program was held at the Baguio Athletic Bowl where hoisting of the CARAA banner was led by Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr., Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, and Department of Education Regional Director Ellen Donato.

The lighting of the Friendship Flame was led by athletes of the Palarong Pambansa such as Palarong Pambansa Arnis Gold Medalist, Twinkle Domingo; Precious Payaket, Palarong Pambansa Gymnastics Athlete; Wilson Wong, PalarongPambansa Archery Athlete; and Jeya Von Pinlac, Palarong Pambansa Badminton Athlete.

Following the lighting of the Friendship Flame were oaths of athletes and technical officials followed by declaration of formal opening of 2016 CARAA meet by Donato.

The CAZRRA theme for this year is: “Team Cordillera: Sports of Excellence for K to 12”.

This, as participants were urged to adhere to the DepEd’s “clean and green policy” throughout the staging of the sports event, considered the biggest in the Cordillera. To encourage utmost participation and proper implementation of eco-friendly measures within the billeting areas and playing venues, three minor awards are up for grabs: Search for the Most Disciplined and Organized Delegation, Most Clean, Green and Eco-friendly Delegation, and Most Clean, Green and Eco-friendly Host Billeting School.

Delegations and billeting schools will be judged through criteria that includes proper waste segregation, collection, transportation and disposal of solid wastes, organization of mess halls, and other best environmental management practices.

“Events like these can be an opportunity to instill among our children the values on environmental conservation so expect a clean and green CARAA 2016,” said search committee chairperson Michelle B. Andaya of DepEd-CAR.

Andaya added that in line with the National Greening Program (NGP), each delegation led by their schools division superintendents are also required to plant 10 indigenous tree species within the school compound they are billeted.

Delegations are expected to coordinate with the Provincial or City Environment and Natural Resources Office for the provision, delivery of seedlings or saplings to the billeting areas.

The search aims to promote environmentally sound methods which maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage conservation as well as instill among the pupils and students the values of discipline, responsibility, and environment consciousness other than the values inherent in sports.

Winners will receive a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P 10,000 during the awarding ceremonies on the last day of CARAA.