NCR Palaro Hosted By Paranaque City Fires Off Today
Isang mainit na balita mula sa pamumuno ng Paranaque -
The cream of the crop of Metro Manila’s elementary and high school athletes are set to swing into action as the National Capital Region Palaro, hosted by Parañaque City, formally opens today with a grand parade ending at the Aseana City grounds.
Close to 4,000 athletes and officials from NCR’s 16 cities and one town will be participating in the week--long competition serving as the region’s qualifying event for the Palarong Pambansa scheduled on May 3 to 9 in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Swimmer Seth Isaac Martin, a double gold medalist in last year’s national Palaro held in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, will lead the oath of sportsmanship for athletes while Dr. Luz Almeda, Department of Education NCR head, will declare the event open during the inaugural ceremonies starting at 4 p.m.
“The City of Parañaque welcomes our athletes and officials in what promises to be another exciting and action-packed edition of the NCR Palaro,” said Parañaque Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez. “We are fortunate to host this event as Parañaque celebrates its 17th anniversary of cityhood.”
Parañaque gained its cityhood on Feb. 13, 1988, and Mayor Olivarez, who is also the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association president, said that playing host to the school meet is among the highlights of the second “Sunduan Festival” in what promises to be a hectic week of activities marking the milestone.
“We will unveil a memorial statue of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and inaugurate the new legislative-judicial building on Thursday,” said the mayor, adding that no less than President Benigno Aquino III has accepted an invitation to grace both events.
A total of 18 and 14 sports are scheduled in the high school and elementary divisions respectively in venues spread throughout the metropolis.
High school bets will be vying for honors in arnis, athletics, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, and dance sports.
The elementary athletes will be competing in arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball, while billiards, girls futsal (indoor football), wushu and wresting are demonstration sports.
While some of the ball games begin today, the centerpiece events of track and field, and swimming will be under way tomorrow at the Marikina Sports Park oval and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex pool, respectively.
Mayor Olivarez explained that they picked the site overlooking the picturesque Manila Bay as the venue for the NCR openng ceremonies since the area, dubbed as the “Entertainment City,” is being developed to become a premier tourist, sports, recreation and leisure destination in the near future.
He will welcome the Palaro delegates to a Mayors’ Night at the Blue Leaf Filipinas convention center following the opening rites.
No comments: