BATANG PINOY 2013 VISAYAS LEG OPENS IN MAASIN CITY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Sep 2013
Some 1,200 athletes joined the opening ceremony of the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg of the National Youth Games in Maasin City yesterday. More than 3,000 delegates including officials graced the parade that started at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza and marched around the poblacion main streets.
Several school bands added gaiety to the parade and people lined-up the streets to cheer the participants. The venue of the opening ceremony which is the Maasin City Gym was a full house and were filled to the rafters.
Jose Luis "Jolly" Gomez, PSC Commissioner in charge of the Batang Pinoy, gave the keynote speech. He emphasized the significance of the grassroots program of the PSC which is quite different from that of the Palarong Pambansa.
"The Batang Pinoy is also open to out-of-school-youth. We have national winners in the Batang Pinoy who pursued their studies through the Alternative Learning System of the DepEd," said Gomez.
Thirty five LGUs from barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces sent athletes and officials. "This is a well-participated Batang Pinoy," said Atty. Jay Alano, the project director of the Batang Pinoy. She and her staff were the workhorse of the games. Other delegates are still expected to arrive today.
On the side of the city, it was the Maasin City Sports Council and the DepEd Maasin City Division who assisted the PSC in all the preparations. The whole Maasin City Council was in full force during the opening ceremony and the Mayor's Welcome Dinner.
The participating LGUs are Aklan, Bacolod City, Brgy Kalanggaman of Leyte, Bato of Leyte, Baybay City, Brgy. Iniguihan of Tomas Oppus, Brgy. Sambag 2 of Cebu City, Cadiz City, Catbalogan City, Cebu City, Hilongos of Leyte, Kalibo, LESSK, Lezo of Aklan, LSA of Leyte, Mandaue City, Matalom, Carmen of Cebu, Consolacion of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, San Fernando of Cebu, Subangdaku of Mandaue, Tacloban City, Tagbilaran City, Talisay City, and host Maasin City.
The Philippine Olympic Committee is represented by Romeo Magat. During the solidarity meeting of all officials, he explained the role of the POC. "The POC coordinates with the PSC in the Batang Pinoy program. We work hand in hand in searching talents to be trained for international competition such as the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics," said Magat.
Governor Roger Mercado, who headed the strong Southern Leyte delegation, gave the welcome message in behalf of the province while this writer welcomed the delegates in behalf of the city.
The entrance of the torch and lighting of the urn was the highlight of the ceremony. Yours truly carried the torch and lighted the urn in a very colorful and exciting display of fireworks which wowed the audience and the visitors.
The Ajonay Festival dancers of the Maasin City College gave a very awesome show to the delight of the crowd. The hearing-impaired pupils of the Maasin Special Education Center gave a doxology and the special rendition of the national anthem, provincial and city hymns.
Tobacco and cigarette smoking is strictly prohibited in all playing venues, billeting quarters, and all public places and public utility vehicles in the first-ever smoke-free Batang Pinoy. "Sports and healthy lifestyle must go together," my words during the opening. "Maasin City is a Hall of Fame Red Orchids Awardee of the Bloomberg Foundation, the WHO and the DOH."
Photo: Mayor Maloney Samaco carrying the Batang Pinoy torch during the opening.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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