Maasin City grabs third in Elementary Division, wins overall in swimming in EVRAA 2011

By R.G. CADAVOS, PIA Southern Leyte
February 8, 2011

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – The Maasin City Sports delegation won third place in the Elementary Division and was the overall champion in swimming competition, for both boys and girls in the recently concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet 2011, held at Calbayog City, City Sports Council staff Jonah Alfarero reported this morning.

It was learned that Leyte province grabbed the first place in elementary level, followed by Ormoc City delegation who garnered the second place in the same level. For the secondary level, Leyte got the first place, followed by Tacloban City delegation, then Eastern Samar for the third place. While, Leyte province was the overall champion in both levels.

During the regional sports meet, Maasin city delegation who sent at least 290 delegates including coaches, trainers and chaperones, competed in the events like athletics, badminton, chess, lawn tennis, sipa, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball for the elementary level, while the secondary division participated in the same categories with the elementary, not to mention boxing and softball games, it was learned.

The sports meet that ended Friday was presented by a “Paalam Night” dinner at the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) before the grand party. The closing ceremony was graced by Aurora Lone District Congressman Sonny Angara, together with the local officials who were with their own delegation.

Meanwhile, the city will be preparing for sport venues, as it is scheduled to host the annual regional sports meet in the year 2012. The last time Maasin City accommodated the sports event was in 2005, by then City Mayor Damian G. Mercado who is now Southern Leyte’s governor.

Leyte Sports Academy athlete-scholars hauled medals in EVRAA 2011

By Provincial Media Relations Center
February 7, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla extends his warm congratulations for the overwhelming medal haul made by athlete-scholars of the province-sponsored Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) during the recently concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association Meet in Calbayog City.

LSA athletes particularly did good in athletics and swimming and went home with gold and silver medals in their respective events as the rest of the Leyte delegation also made an impressive standing in several of the sports discipline and went on to grab the overall champion.

The Leyte delegation ruled over other divisions in the region with a total of 459 points in the overall tally of the various sports, more than double the points gathered by second placer Eastern Samar delegation.

Gov. Petilla said this is exactly the intention in putting up with the sports academy which the provincial government started in 2010 utilizing the Leyte Sports Development Center and all its facilities as the venue for training these athlete-scholars.

The governor maintained that to improve the province’s, and subsequently the region’s, standing in national sports competition, there is a need to implement a good recruitment program that would provide championship caliber training for athletes with potentials.

The first batch of scholars of the Leyte Sports Academy are composed of 37 athletes who passed rigid screening conducted by the province of Leyte. They are particularly trained in athletics, swimming and boxing.

Winnie Loreno won a bronze in triple jump while Ellen Nayon earned a silver in discus throw.

In athletics for elementary girls, Rosemarie Onorvida won golds in the individual 100m and 200m run including in the 100m hurdle.

For secondary boys, Francis Acedillo win two silvers in the 400m low hurdles and 800m run.

Meanwhile in swimming, Leyte swimmers swept off most of the golds with LSA athletes bringing in their own medal haul. For elementary girls, Christal Ray Bullo won golds in the 50m Freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley while Jackielyn Valeriano also won golds in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

For elementary boys, LSA only fielded Justin Estremus who earned three golds in the individual 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle while for secondary boys Marco Dayoc earned a bronze in the 100m freestyle and silver in the 200m freestyle.

For secondary girls, LSA athletes who won medals include Mary Grace Orquesta who won gold in the 200m freestyle and silver medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle respectively.

Catherine Montecillo won gold in 100m breaststroke and silver in 200m breaststroke; Gay Marie Garrido won silvers in 200m and 100m Butterfly respectively; Ivy Soledad won bronze in the 200m Butterfly and silvers in the 400m and 100m freestyle; and, Kezia Mariel Meneses won silvers in the 200m and 100m backstroke and a bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Eastern Samar bags third in EVRAA 2011

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
February 7, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – The more than 400 athletes that represented E. Samar in the recently concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet done in Calbayog City, placed third.

In an interview, DepEd Training Director Ernesto Catubao bared this information in a phone interview.

“This is an improvement from last year where we ended up in the fourth place,” added Catubao. Similarly, DepEd Superintendent Bernardo Adina stressed that he is satisfied with the standing of the delegation he led.

Catubao reported that Adina was with his athletes all the while, he did not stay in a hotel, to ensure that their needs were met.

“I am impressed by the way Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy and DepEd Superintendent Editha Paculan hosted the entire athletic meet,” Catubao said.

“We were provided a stand by vehicle for our athletes mobilization, as the sports venues were located in other places,” Catubao shared.

He added though that Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart provided them also vehicles to tranport some of their equipments to Calbayog City.

As the athletes returned, Representative Ben Evardone awarded the medalists with corresponding cash incentives.

Maasin City eyes sports activities as a form of tourism

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
February 4, 2011

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Emboldened by the success of Pili, Camarines Sur in the way they were known for extreme sports, this city would also promote physical activities as a strategy to invite attention, a filed now referred as sports tourism.

But while the CamSur experience was more on the hard adventures, this city would be hosting marathons, City Mayor Maloney Samaco said yesterday as part of his State of the City Address (SOCA) speech at the legislative session hall.

“Fun run is the number one growing sport in the Philippines,” Samaco declared in front of an attentive audience of city heads of offices and members of the City Council.

On February 11, or Friday next week, the city will organize the first-ever marathon dubbed “Run for the Heart”, a reference to running as an exercise being good for the heart, and the month of February being popularly known as heart month.

A registration fee of P100 per individual participant was required to join, and the money will be used to buy T-shirts and singlets to be worn by the runners, and any remaining sum will be used to donate relief goods for displaced people in Saint Bernard.

Prizes will be received by top three runners in both categories, while those who survived up to the finish line will also receive consolation prizes, it was learned.

The three kilometer route starts from the city hall up to Pilot School, barangay Mantahan, and back to city hall, while the six kilometer trek also starts at city hall up to provincial capitol, barangay Asuncion, and back again to city hall.

Another organization, the Pope Paul Vi Seminary, is also sponsoring a “Fund Run” marathon on February 19, probably inspired by the city-led initiative.

Samaco said aside from marathons, the city will be hosting in May the amateur boxing association tournament, a nationwide activity that is expected to draw visitors to the city.

Samar gets gold and silver in athletics and lawn tennis

By GEMMA TABAO, PIA Catbalogan
February 3, 2011

CATBALOGAN, Samar – With the Eastern Visayas Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet about to end, the Samar delegation is sure to bring home 8 gold and 12 silver medals for athletics.

Aside from the field of athletics, Samar is also the overall champion in the lawn tennis competition.

According to Daco, aside from athletics and tennis, their group is also optimistic to win another gold medal in basketball, as it is scheduled to play the championship game against the Biliran island team.

With the notable victory of the Samar athletes, the said sports group headed by its Division Sports Coordinator, Dr. Eduardo Pabunan, is optimistic their team will still obtain the victory in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa.

The Samar delegation is composed of 474 athletes of the high school and elementary levels in the Samar island, together with 34 officiating officials under the Samar DepEd.

Eastern Samar covets gold in chess

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
February 3, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – As the Eastern Visayas Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet continues, Eastern Samar coveted its gold in the chess event.

In a text message, Dep Ed Division Superintendent Bernardo Adina said that Jhon Carlo Calicay emerged as the chess champion for elementary boys, while Marie Antonette Belizar got also the championship for girls chess.

Adina mentioned coaches Rolando Cada and Ester Padriga as instrumental in winning the gold.

In an additional text message, Adina said that the Lawaan Central Elementary School in Lawaan, Eastern Samar was also proclaimed champion in baseball elementary division.

Eastern Samar had more than 400 athletes who trooped to Calbayog City for the biggest sporting event in the region as it opened on January 30, 2011.

In an interview, while Eastern Samar team was preparing for the sports event, Training Director Ernesto Catubao hailed the support of Adina, some mayors, and the top leaders of the province.

He also cited the presence of Mayor Tito Codoy of Llorente and Mayor Gigi Zacate of Sulat during the sports event’s opening ceremonies.

Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy and Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento impressed their visitors as they treated them to a day of solidarity, complete with cultural presentations, food treats and even fireworks.

Adina, Catubao and the athletes who wear the blue and gold uniforms are enthusiastic that they will still continue to reap gold, silver and even bronze to make it to Palarong Pambansa 2011.

Maasin City delegation grabs gold, silver, bronze medals in EVRAA 2011’s swimming competition

By R.G. CADAVOS, PIA Maasin
February 1, 2011

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Maasin City Sports delegation were jubilant in the first day of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet 2011, that grabbed 8 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze medals in swimming competition.

Zaldy Olita, staff of Maasin City Mayor’ Office, one of the delegates who was with the city delegation reported from Calbayog City in a live interview over radio station DyDM this morning, Feruary 1, that the city delegation was fruitful in the opening games, adding that a gold medal for the athletics was also won.

The city delegation is still hopeful to grab more medals for the regional one-week sports activity. Elimination rounds for other events are still on-going, Olita said. He said that city already approved an ordinance awarding the medalists for sports competition like this. P2,000 for the gold medalist; P1,000 for silver and P500 for the bronze medalist.

It was learned that the city earned a distinction as the “first Palaro gold winner” in swimming competition, last Palarong Pambansa 2008 held at Puerto Princesa City. Edison Pacsa who was then a Grade Six pupil from Asuncion Elementary School, this city won the gold medal in the 50-meter breaststroke.

Meanwhile, Olita reported that security situation in their assigned area at San Policarpo Central School, Calbayog City was in order. Barangay Tanods are manning 24 hours for 4 shifts. A police authority and an army are also visible around the Maasin City delegation’s quarter.

Maasin City to host EVRAA 2012

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
January 31, 2011

MAASIN CITY – Even as the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet is unfolding this week at Calbayog City, this city was already tasked to handle this same regional, in-school sports competition next year 2012.

Speaking live from Calbayog in a news program over DYDM this morning, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco confirmed such hosting, saying that this was formally announced last night during a dinner tendered by the host city to welcome the different athletes and delegates.

Being the Boy Scout that he is who has internalized its motto of always be prepared, Samaco said he accepted the challenge of holding next year’s EVRAA, after having duly consulted with the City DepEd office headed by City Division Superintendent Pedro Escobarte.

His acceptance turned out a blessing, since the year 2013 will be an election year it will be difficult to focus on the games, he said, adding that Gov. Damian Mercado committed his all-out support with the EVRAA 2012 held in the city.

The last time Maasin City hosted EVRAA was in 2005, held at the sports grounds of the Tomas Oppus Pilot School (TOPS), under the leadership of then City Mayor Damian Mercado and Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco.

Maasin City sports delegation off to EVRAA 2011, prepares incentives for medalists

By R.G. CADAVOS, PIA Maasin
January 25, 2011

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Maasin City sports delegation is now preparing to take off earlier, Friday, January 28 to represent the city for the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association set to open on January 30, 2011 at Calbayog City.

In a regular program, ”Maasin City in Action” live over radio station DyDM, host Zaldy Olita said that Maasin City delegation will depart earlier as scheduled to familiarize the place and the venues of each events the city is participating. At least 290 delegates will push to the EVRAA meet 2011, to include athletes, coaches, trainers, chaperones, health personnel, among other delegates, it was learned.

Like former years that the city had participated in regional sports competition, the sports council also awarded cash incentives to those who garnered gold, silver and bronze medals, Olita disclosed. It is a way of recognizing and giving honor to athletes who made the city proud, not only in the regional level but also in the Palarong Pambansa which allowed Edison Pacsa earn a gold medal in swimming competition.

Maasin City Sports Council headed by Mayor Maloney Samaco is hopeful that the city delegation can take home awards during this year’s regional sports competition which dubbed as “School Sports: an avenue for values development towards transformation.”

It was learned further that the elementary delegation from Maasin City will compete in the following games: athletics, badminton, chess, lawn tennis, sipa, swimming, table tennis, taekwando and volleyball, while the secondary school will participate in the same categories with the elementary level, not to mention boxing and softball games.

EVRAA meet to push through

By PIA Eastern Samar
January 24, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – There is no stopping the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association from opening on January 30, 2011.

This was more or less the contention of the different committee chairmen in a meeting recently in Calbayog City.

Earlier last week, Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy contemplated on re setting the EVRAA Meet due to his fear that everything will become spoiled if heavy rains will continue until the opening of the EVRAA Meet.

The mayor wanted to sustain its reputation of hosting an almost perfect athletic meet.

The city then hosted EVRAA Meet in 2003.

In the meeting, Schools Division Superintendent, Mrs. Editha Paculan found no reason to put off the EVRAA Meet.

According to her, the weather is already fine, the city already started to spend for repairs and rehabilitation of the playing venues and the billeting schools, and some delegations are already coming as early as today for their rehearsals.

Already mobilized are the Executive Committee, Secretariat, Technical and Games Administration, Ceremonial/Socials and Cultural, Billeting, Logistics and other Services, Publicity and Promotion, Civic Participation, and Games venue, Facilities, Grounds and Equipment Committees.

Their respective chairpersons were all present during the meeting held on Saturday (January 22, 2011) in the morning at the City Mayor's Office conference room.

Mayor Uy being the chairperson of the Executive Committee for this year's EVRAA Meet presided.

In Borongan, Eastern Samar, some 400 athletes are set to battle it out with some potential champion athletes in Taekwondo and basketball. (with Aimee Catalan)

Eastern Samar athletes ready for EVRAA

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
January 21, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – Some 400 Eastern Samar athletes are now ready for the sports competition in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) from January 31 to February 4, 2011 scheduled in Calbayog City.

In an interview, Mr Ernesto Catubao, training coordinator from DepEd said that since January 13, 2011, the athletes coming from all over the province have started training.

“There is an extensive training of athletes, they are more focused and management has been very supportive of the needs of the athletes,” Catubao shared to PIA.

They are also provided with vitamins and other supplements, added the training director.

“For medicines and vitamins alone, we spend some P200 thousand,” Catubao said.

“There is also regular weighing and check up of athletes to ensure that they are healthy,” Catubao added.

“Nurses have also been on a 24-hour duty to check on the athletes,” he said.

When asked in what sports event Eastern Samar has the best chance, “Basketball and taekwondo,” he said.

“In fact, last year, some taekwondo players got gold medals in the Palarong Pambansa held in Tarlac,” he added.

As to funds, the training coordinator said that Rep. Ben Evardone pledged to donate some P300,000 while they are still waiting for a word from the provincial government.