• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 2024 Western Visayas Athletic Association meet kicked off yesterday at the Panaad Sports and Stadium in Bacolod City, with the participation of 5,695 athletes, coaches, officials, and staff of the Department of Education, from the six provinces of Region 6.
The delegation from Capiz province was the biggest delegation to the regional meet, with a total of 973 athletes, coaches and other officials. Negros Occidental had 903, Iloilo – 873, Antique – 871, Aklan – 847, and 561 from Guimaras, according to data issued by Hernani Escullar Jr., spokesperson of the Department of Education regional office.
It also includes 703 officials and members of the DepEd technical teams.
Escullar said “all is ready” for the annual regional sports event.
He added that some of the sports events under the Para-games already started on Wednesday.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who hosted a fellowship night at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City, welcoming the DepEd, in his speech said that sports hold immense significance in Filipino culture, which serves as a unifying force that fosters national pride and identity.
Lacson also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to everyone who made this year’s WVRAA possible.
“Given our focus on the local level, we are uniquely positioned to empower and enable our youth, facilitating their ability to reach their utmost potential, whether in sports or other aspects of their growth and development,” the governor said.
While skills and talent are undoubtedly crucial for any athlete, nothing can substitute for the mindful, intelligent, pioneering, and committed mentoring and guidance that we provide, he added.*
