CVIRAA contingent sails off for Palaro

CEBU, Philippines — The bulk of the 869-member Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) delegation will be leaving the Queen City of the South with a bagful of hope to rise again from the slump when they compete in this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur next week.

The unified training initiated by the Cebu City government under Mayor Tomas Osmeña and councilor Joy Agustus Young has kept the athletes better prepared than in the previous edition.

Young, in particular, is very happy that finally such training has been done.

“I’m glad that it’s finally done. I had spoused this idea of a unified training kaniadto pang konsehal ko in 1990’s, but it’s only now that it has materialized. Sige ra kog suggest, but lagi kay wala pud mi budget ato that time especially sa food sa mga bata, wala gyud nahimo. Ako na pud gi-suggest og balik sa DepEd-7 sa una, pero walay nahitabo. And finally karon, nahimo na gyud nato. Hopefully, makatabang gyud ni sa mga athletes,” said Young.

The unified training expenses had been shouldered by the city government, something that DepEd-VII officials, coaches and athletes appreciated very well.

Young said he is lucky that he found a budget in the city’s coffer to be used for the training of athletes not only from Cebu City but for all qualified athletes of CVIRAA in the Palaro.

There were winning teams from other LGUs that trained in their area, but also “adopted” and spent for the training of their reinforcements.

“The training we had may not be perfect, but at least we have prepared the athletes physically and psychologically,” said Young.

The unified training, which include tune-up games as well as strength and conditioning, ran for about 20 days. Whether or not it is enough, it remains to be seen.

“We also do not know how the others prepared, but at least nasugdan na ni nato ron sa atoa. Hopefully, masaka og balik atong ranking, from ninth to maybe 4th or even higher. I hope. Ako na pud ning trabahoon na naa gihapon ni sa sunod,” added Young.