“YOUR opponent will not be for a lifetime, they’re just temporary and preparing you for what’s best in the future. In sports competitions, you’ll be able to learn from each other.”
These are the encouraging words shared by Misamis Oriental Second District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente ‘Bambi’ Emano on Thursday afternoon’s opening of the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) Meet 2023 at the Misamis Oriental Integrated Sports Complex in Cagayan de Oro City.
Speaking on behalf of Misamis Oriental Governor Peter ‘Sr Pedro’ Unabia, Board Member Gerardo Sabal III reiterated Emano’s standpoint in the arts of sports rivalry within the parameters of the Department of Education program, saying that character building that goes along with indulging in the different sports disciplines is more than winning medals and reaping victories.
And the younger governor’s son Christian S. Unabia, representative of the province’s first District who is also in attendance, could only agree.
“Tatlong taon tayong nalungkot due to Covid-19 pandemic. And now that you are ready to compete, please remember that the learning process and experience that you share in a competition like this will always far outweigh the winning goal,” said DepEd-10 Regional Director Arturo B. Bayocot in reminding the region's best athletes in elementary and secondary levels.
“It’s not just about physical prowess but critical analysis,” added Bayocot.
The NMRAA Cluster one elimination games had just been concluded in Tubod, Lanao del Norte with Misamis Oriental overtaking Bukidnon (16-13-11) and host Lanao del Norte (14-17-11) with its commanding 26-28-24 gold-silver-bronze medal haul for the overall supremacy.
“The clustering of the NMRAA Games into four has already surpassed expectation, and we’re looking forward to more delighting surprises ahead of the Cagayan de Oro elimination games,” observed Sabal, also the chairperson of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan Committee on Education.
El Salvador City is co-hosting the ongoing Cluster 2 games mainly scheduled at the MOISC and at the Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro NHS, Corpus Christi School Gymnasium, Alubijid NCHS, and Public Plaza among other playing venues.
The Cluster 3 and 4 games will be jointly hosted by Camiguin Island and Gingoog City in the early part of May.
Attending the opening ceremony of the NMRAA Meet that will be slated until April 30 are the team delegates from Bukidnon, Camiguin, El Salvador City, Gingoog City, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Malaybalay City, Misamis Occidental, Oroquieta City, Ozamiz City, Tangub City, Valencia City, Cagayan de Oro City, host Misamis Oriental along with the Marshalls and Sports Technical Officials with the MOGCHS Drum and Lyre adding color to the Thursday afternoon spectacle at MOISC, formerly known as Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.
