Zambo Sibugay Prov’l Meet a resounding success

BUUG, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, December 20 -  The Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Athletic Association Meet, held at the Buug Pilot Central School, here, ended today with a resounding success.      With the theme: "Strengthening Peace, Progress and Unity Through Sports",  the 3-day Provincial Athletic Meet was attended by thousands of national, provincial, municipal and barangay officials, education officials, students and representatives of various sectoral groups in the province.      The attending national officials were headed by Congressman Jonathan C. Yambao of the Ist  District and Congressman Romeo A. Jalosjos, Jr. of the 2nd District ,  Zamboanga Sibugay, while the provincial officials were headed by Provincial Governor Rommel A. Jalosjos, Provincial Vice Governor Rey Andre Olegario,   The municipal officials were headed by Municipal Mayor Jonam R. Lagas and Municipal Vice Mayor Arnold Lim.  The barangay officials were headed by ABC President Gerry R. Lagas, punong barangay of Barangay Poblacion, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay.  The education officials were headed by Assistant Superintendent Amelia P. Torralba, officer-in- charge of the Zamboanga Sibugay Schools Division.      Nineteen sports events were played during the athletic competition which include arnis, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball junior, baseball little league, boxing, chess, gymnastics, foot ball soccer, swimming, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, sipak takraw, basketball (elementary and secondary) and sipa.     Most of the games were played at the BPCS playground, while the few others were played at the St. Paul School , MSU Buug National High School, and at the Sitio Silupa, Bawang beach.       The games were played by congressional districts instead of by clusters as customarily done in the past.       The Congressional District 2 delegation emerged as the general champion with Congressional District 1 delegation as runner up.  District 2 also received the Most Disciplined Delegation Award, while District 1 got the Cleanest Delegation Award.Hundreds of trophies, gold, silver, and bronze medals were given to the winners  of the various sports categories.  Plaques of Appreciation were also awarded to deserving government and school officials who contributed in no small measure in making the 2010 Provincial Athletic Meet a resounding success.    The Municipality of Buug succeeded in hosting the 2010 Provincial Athletic Meet after the lapse of eighteen (18) years.  Buug was the host of the 1992 Provincial Meet when it was still a part of Zamboanga del Sur.   In the fellowship night, Mayor Lagas expressed gratitude to God for giving the municipality the opportunity to host the big sports event and allowed the people of Zamboanga Sibugay to gather and unite in conducting the provincial meet.  He said the sports event wlhich is basically a competition as well as fun, gives the athletes the opportunity to exercise.  He said sports, which is derived from the French word 'desport' means leisure or in local parlance 'lulinghayaw'. Mayor Lagas stressed that our country headed by President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III has called on all Filipinos and encouraged them to achieve a genuine peace, development and unity among our people to achieve what he called the "New Philippines"  As local chief executive and father of the municipality, Mayor Lagas believes that there is one instrument or simple way, which is not costly but nonetheless, effective in attaining true peace, development and unity of Filipinos  He said this instrument is sports.  He said,  Through sports, we will achieve understanding, love and unity"..   Mayor Lagas admitted however that it is not easy to host a big affair like this.  He said all the officials and employees of the municipality of Buug  are helping each other along with the residents of the coastal community. Mayor Lagas  said , "Despite our efforts to fully prepare for the Provincial Athletic Meet, we fell short of what we wanted due to the uncooperative weather.  The continuous rains have hindered us from achieving our goal of an improved school playground."  He then asked the people for their understanding as he apologized for the shortfall. He said, "Despite this inadequacy, we are grateful to God and to all delegates that we are able to host this big sports event in our midst." In closing, Mayor Lagas reiterated his thanks and gratitude to the people who in one way or another helped in holding the sports event in Buug.  He also thanked Gov. Jalosjos , and  Cong. Yambao as well as the provincial board members, the municipal mayors of Zamboanga Sibugay for their financial support making possible the improvement of the school ground. He also wished all of them a merry Christmas and a happy new year.