Sports Is The Only Activity That Can Unite Each Nation-Umali

Feb. 8,2012



Sports Is The Only Activity That Can Unite Each Nation-Umali
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte- Sports is the only activity tha can unite each nation.
This was the statement of guest speaker Tonisito Umali,Assitant Secretary of the Dept. of Education in his speech at the TOPs Grandstand during the official opening of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA)meet here the host city of Maasin, the capital of Southern leyte province.
“Feel good and be recognized”, he told the crowd of athletes, officiating officials and coaches.”But you need to be good to be recognized”.
Umali who is also an educator and practicing lawyer in the Philippines and the USA,further admonished the 10 delegations to adopt and internalize a “serenity prayer”, which according to him he learned it from his father.
He uttered: “Lord let me learn to accept the things I cannot change, to give me the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.
Governor Damian Mercado and Congressman Roger Mercado have warmly welcomed the 10 delegations from 6 provinces. The delegations were also composed of some Mayors, Governors and Representatives in the entire Eastern Visayas otherwise known as Region 8(Leyte and Samar islands).
The Mercados have stressed the great importance of unity ,solidarity and teamwork among local and national officials in achieving some goals for the improvement and progress of the city and the whole province.
The younger Mercado was also hopeful that the participating delegations would make their 7-day sports activities more memorable; while the older Mercado has emphasized the importance of becoming as one in achieving excellence and success in the field of sports for the youth.
The congressman also strongly urged the delegations including guests and visitors to follow the first smoke-free policy of the EVRAA of the host cityi”This is to show to other people that we in the Eastern Visayas are one and united”, he said.
Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco for his part claimed in his short speech that offi cials in the city and the provincial government were united, the reason why Maasin City is developing fast.
Samaco also reminded all the athletes and officials that “we are here to play for sports competitions and winning is only secondary, adding that “we are all champions”.
The sports-minded and sportswriter Mayor further confided that all the athletes of the Maasin delegation are below 18 years old.He was likewise hopeful that the rest of the 9 delegations’ athletes were also of the same ages.”Walang dayaan sa edad!”,he told the concerned officials.

Raising of Banners
The raising of the delegations’ banners has followed. Genis Murallos,OIC assistant School Divisio9n Superintendent, Mayor Samaco,DepEd Regional Director Luisa Bautista-Yu and School Division Superintendents were among t hose who hoisted the delegations’ banners .
Mary Joy Calapre,Batang Pinoy 2011,Gold medalist in tennis led the athletes oath of Amateurism while Cesar Veronque,Regional Sports Coordinator, led the oath of amateurism among officiating officials. City Tourism Officer Royeno Segovia,the EMCEE presented to the whole delegations 6 young Batang Pinoy 2011 athletes of Maasin City led by Mary Joy Calapre.
Calapre holding the lighted torch ran around the oval playground followed by her peers as each athlete passed on the torch to each other as they reached the grandstand.
Here the last athlete carrying the lighted torch passed on to Mayor Samaco who led the run towards th e location of the huge urn adjacent to the location of the EVRAA banner poles. The Mayor then lighted the huge urn and the crowd applauded.
A fifteen to twenty minutes fireworks show has dominated the Mantahan skyline as Dr. Yu officially opened the first smoke-free EVRAA meet 2012.
The 10 delegations were : 1)Southern Leyte-360; 2)Maasin Cityi-460; 3)Calbayog City-350; 4)Eastern Samar-600; 5)Biliran-320; 6)Leyte Province-600; 7)Northern Samar-600; 8)Ormoc City-420; 9)Samar-600; 10)Tacloban City-500.
Games to be competed and its respective venues: 1)archery-PNP Provincial Headquarters; 2)arnis-Abgao gymn; 3)athletics-Southern Leyte Sports Complex; 4)badminton-DILG gymn; 5)baseball-TOPS oval playground; 6)basketball-Asuncion gymn; 7)boxing-Maasin Bus Terminal; 8)chess-RKK Function House; 9)gymnastics-Tagnipa gymn; 10)sipa takraw-TOPS oval playground; alternate venue-Combado gymn; 11)soccer-SJC campus; 12)softball-Maasin Citiy Division office ground; 13)swimming-cacao mountain resort; 14)table tennis-Badiang covered court ; 15)lawn tennis-capitol tennis court; 16)volleyball-Southern Leyte Sports Complex; alternate venue-Bugo gymn for girls and Isagani gymn for boys.
In the evening officials of the ten delegations were treated to a welcome dinner at the city gymn where Umali the DepEd Assistant Secretary received a plaque of appreciation from Mayor Maloney Samaco.
Earlier there was a long afternoon parade of all athletes,officiating officials, coaches,delegations’ heads,including some mayors,Governors and representatives.The parade has started at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza down to the Tomas Oppus Pilot School in brgy Mantahan.
ABS-CBN 2011 Filipinas Got Talent champion the Maasinhon Trio have entertained the crowd with series of songs during intermissions of the program.
Also present during the formal opening of the EVRAA meet 2012 were Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11,SP member Cesar Rey, City Councilors,Atty. Alberto Escobarte,PNP,reservists,some city dwellers and some media personalities.(Quirico M. Gorpido.,Jr.)