BANGUED, Abra — Two bemedaled athletes of this province rallied their fellow Cordilleran athletes on Monday to participate in this year’s Cordillera Administrative Region Athletics Association (CARAA) sports meet on February 4-9.
“Abra is a nice place to go. You never know how safe unless you try to come and play with us,” said Jewin Joyce Laniela, a table tennis player and Grade 12 student at Abra High School.After 20 years, the province of Abra is again hosting the biggest regional sports conclave. Delegates are expected to start arriving by February 1.
“We have been practicing for so long. It’s time for us to show our individual talents,” said the 17-year local athlete, who represented CARAA in two editions of the Palarong Pambansa, a school-based sports meet, where the greatness of Filipino athletes starts to flourish.
Interviewed by the Philippine News Agency, the young student-athlete, and the eldest daughter of an administrative aide at the Abra Schools Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) beamed, declaring, “It’s an honor and privilege to represent our province once again through this meet.”
She emphasized the support of her school, the province, and the parents in her involvement in sports. She said through her passion for sports, she could work her way to a college degree to become a nurse in the future.
Elija Jeremy Carrera, Grade 12 student of Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) who has found happiness in playing table tennis, called on their fellow athletes in the region to come to Abra.
The PNA also interviewed several local players of futsal, volleyball, and softball on the sidelines of their practice rounds at the ASIST campus in Lagangilang town and at the playing venues in Tayum town.
Like Laniela and Carrera, they all have high hopes of playing with their fellow Cordilleran athletes in the week-long CARAA meet.
In its meeting at the regional office of the Department of Education (DepED) Cordillera on January 26, the CARAA board decided to push through with the sports summit in Abra despite a blast incident several days before in La Paz town that killed two policemen and injured several officials and civilians.
The emergency meeting was held in light of concerns relayed by some parents about sending their children to Abra for the sports meet.
DepEd-Cordillera regional director Mary Eclar said the organizers had decided to go on after consulting with local government officials and law enforcement agencies, who gave assurance that all security measures are in place for the safety of the athletes, officials, and the public in general.
Meanwhile, host Abra is working double-time to finish the facilities at the main sports complex, especially the track and the swimming pool.
“The hosting of CARAA is our utmost priority at the moment,” said Abra Governor Jocelyn Bernos in a text message to PNA.
“We are ready. We are finishing everything and making sure that everyone will be comfortable, safe and secure,” Bernos added.
Bernos earlier declared a total gun ban in the whole province of Abra from February 1 to 9, in time for the CARAA meet.
Additional uniformed men will also be deployed at the venues and billeting areas to ensure everyone’s safety. (PNA)
