CVIRAA delegates gear up for February 25 event

CEBU, Philippines - Delegates of the Central Visayas Regional Athle-tics Association (CVIRAA) 2015 have started to arrive in Cebu for the start of the event two days from now.

Department of Education-7 regional director Juliet Jeruta said the start of competition would be on February 25 while the day after would be its formal opening.

 The regional meet, which gathers numerous delegates from the provin-ces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, is expected to end on March 2.

 She said this year’s host is the province of Cebu, specifically the municipality of Balamban, while supporting hosts are the towns of Asturias and Toledo.

 “This would be the venue to choose the most outstanding athletes for Central Visayas,” said Jeruta in a phone interview.

 She explained that at least 19 divisions are set to join the event and the winners would then represent the region for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City, Davao del Norte in May.

 “We are all in this (event) so that our efforts will be forged together to choose the best. Let us put our forces together, both our prayers and moral support for the athletes,” said Jeruta as a message to the delegates, which include athletes, coaches, trainers, supporters and also the local government units.

 “For the athletes, we are giving you the opportunity to develop your innate characteristics and potentials and manifest the trainings for your cultivation, use this in the best way. May you take victory with humility and accept challenges and defeat graciously,” she added.

 Over 700 delegates from Bohol province already arrived in Cebu last Saturday.

 The delegates arrived on board two passenger shipping lines and gathered near Plaza Independencia where at least ten buses were waiting to transport them to Balamban.

The Bohol delegation would be staying at the Buanoy National High School in Buanoy, Balamban.

 Out of the 700 delegates from Bohol, 407 are athletes from private and public schools from both elementary and secondary division.

 One of the athletes is nine-year-old female taekwondo athlete Rashni Aguhar, who shared on her eagerness on her second time to participate in the CVIRAA. She admitted that she didn’t win the first time she joined the event.

 Aguhar is a grade four student of Talibon Central Elementary School and one of the 12 taekwondo athletes for the elementary category.

 Aguhar’s father, Romeo, who is travelling with her and is one of the taekwondo trainers for the team, stressed that winning is not important.

“Dili kinahanglan modaug, ang important nga naa silay makuha sa ilang pagduwa, mao ang self-discipline ug perseverance nga sa ilang mga giagian nga training nga dili jud sila mo-surrender.”

Cirilo Calatrava, head for Physical Education on School Sports from the Bohol delegation, said they started training on February 4.

   “Though dili continuous among training, and considering dili enough among facilities but we see to it that we are able to gather them, maglisod man gud mi og tapok nila labi na kun lagyo kaayo ang uban,” he said.

 “Though Cebu City (Niños) remains unbeaten, I am hoping that they (athletes) will do their best,” he added.  (FREEMAN)