EVRAA 2015 kicks off in Baybay City, Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - Leaving behind the trauma of the Yolanda devastation, close to 7,000 athletes and officials from different provinces of the typhoon-ravaged region started their athletic competitions during the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association 2015, which was formally opened on February 1 at the Baybay City Sports Complex in Baybay City.

Despite drizzles and intermittent rains, the EVRAA 2015, graced by national, regional and local officials, held its opening rites with a parade around the city, freeing of doves and a 30-minute fireworks display, with the theme, "One Race, One Goal, One Victory."

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in his speech, said the hosting of Baybay City and Leyte province of EVRAA 2015-from February 1 to 7-"signifies that Leyte has now recovered from the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013. There was no EVRAA last year due to the effects of the calamity.

Department of Education-8 director Luisa Bautista-Yu, who formally declared the event open, told reporters that the EVRAA 2015 involved 6,964 athletes and officials from 13 delegations around Eastern Visayas.  

She said the provincial delegations were from the provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, while the city delegations were from the cities of Calabayog, Catbalogan, Borongan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay and Maasin.

Yu said a total of 4,740 athletes will compete in 21 sports during the weeklong event. A total of 1,869 of them were elementary pupils and 2,880 were high school students. There were 622 coaches and chaperons, 262 delegation officials, 486 officiating officials and 80 management officials, she added.

Mayor Carmen Cari welcomed the delegates and visitors. In her speech, she thanked God and the city's patron saint, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, for sparing the place from the wrath of Yolanda and subsequent typhoons.

Education Assistant Secretary Tonitino Umali, the event's guest speaker and secretary-general of the Palarong Pambansa, urged the athletes to practice sportsmanship as there was more to sports than winning. He also asked the crowd to a 44-second of silent prayer for the 44 PNP-SAF heroes who died in Maguindanao.

Other speakers were Representatives Jose Carlos Cari (5th district, Leyte) and Roman Romulo of Pasig City, who lit the ceremonial torch that he turned over to taekwondo medalist Delio Amante.

Also present in the event were Romulo's wife Shalani Soledad, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, Vice Governor Carlo Loreto; Provincial Board Members Junjun Cayunda and Boboy Gacis; and Tacloban City Councilor Cristina Romualdez.

The guests were also treated to a presentation of the Binaybayon Festival by the Plaridel National High School, the 2014 winner of the city's official festival. — (FREEMAN)