Sec. Leonor M. Briones of DepEd, the keynote speaker, as she listens to the introduction by USEC Revsee A. Escobedo. Briones is flanked by Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. of Apayao (left) and Regional Director May B. Eclar of DepEd-CAR (right).
Luna, Apayao – A crowd of around 7,000 athletes, coaches, tournament officials and heads of delegations from all over the region flocked at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex (AETSC) here for the opening of the five-day Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet to end on Mar. 3.
Opening the event was the grand entrance. Following the colors was the Philippine Army Band, the CARAA Meet Banners and officials of the Department of Education and Officiating officials. In between delegations were street dancers portraying festivals of the seven towns of Apayao.
Abra Stallions led all the delegations followed by the Baguio e-Lions, Benguet Stingers, Ifugao Builders, Kalinga Bulls, Mt. Province Brave Mountaineers and City Brewers. Apayao Eagles came last,
it being the host of the event.
Upon arrival to the athletic oval and the grandstand grounds was the Unity Dance led by the Apayao Eagles athletes where all other athletes followed. Then the hoisting of the DepEd and delegation banners. Regional Director May B. Eclar of DepEd-CAR and Agustin Gumuwang, Chief Education Supervisor for Education Support Services Division jointly hoisted the DepEd banner while the delegation banners were simultaneously raised by the respective schools division superintendents assisted by selected employees of the provincial government here.
Rep. Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang welcomed the delegations. Aside from the warm welcome accorded to the delegations, the lawmaker expressed appreciation to the provincial government for hosting the regional athletic event. She also appreciated the officials of DepEd-CAR for considering the province as venue of the CARAA. She also lauded the national line agencies and the lower local governments for their involvement for the success of this annual sports event.
Revsee A. Escobedo, Undersecretary for FieLd Operations and the Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development, introduced Sec. Leonor M. Briones as the keynote speaker. Briones was applauded loudly when she started to deliver her speech.
“I promised and I hope that my speech will be shorter than my curriculum vitae,” Briones quipped telling the crowd that her speech is contained in a 20-page A4 size bond paper. Then she thanked Escobedo for the introduction. “Ang hindi lang niya isinama ay ang aking lovelife,” she continued quipping.
Lighting the CARAA torch was Harry Jones A. Olivas of San Francisco, Luna, Apayao, Grade 11 of the Apayao Science High School in Tumog of Luna town this province. Olivas was bronze medalist in Arnis (secondary) during the Palarong Pambansa 2018.
Administering the oath of sportsmanship was Kate Angelique M. Baysa of San Luis, Pudtol, Apayao. She is Grade 11 of the Pudtol Vocational High School. Baysa was bronze medalist in Arnis (secondary) during the Palarong Pambansa 2018.
Gumuwang administered the pledge of officiating officials while Eclar did the declaration of the formal opening of the CARAA Meet 2019.
A ground demonstration followed where a thousand of students took part coming from the different schools in the lower section of the province. (Bernie A. Gamiao with reports from Jerlyn-Mae I. Balacang)