LINGAYEN -- They traveled almost seven hours from Ilocos Norte to this town to protect and defend their supremacy in the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (Iraa) annual meet.
The 732 Ilocos Norte delegations composed of athletes, coaches, and officials led by Ilocos Norte Schools Superintendent Araceli Pastor went home victorious as they again reigned for the ninth consecutive years.
The Iraa 2008 was held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here from February 24 to 29.
The overall ranking and total points are as follows: Ilocos Norte - 695.9; Pangasinan 2 - 486; La Union - 324.5; Pangasinan 1 - 169.4; Dagupan City - 126.5; Alaminos City - 43.5; San Fernando City - 36.67; Vigan City - 34.5; and Urdaneta City - 29.9.
For the special awards, Laoag City was again adjudged as "Most Disciplined Delegation" while La Union who stayed Domalandan Elementary School was chosen as the "Cleanest Delegation."
Pastor credits their victory to the sports program institutionalized by Ilocos Norte Governor Michael Keon. This, he introduced nine years ago when he became Board Member and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as then the governor.
Keon was the former head of Project: Gintong Alay, which gained prominence Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) sports meet during the incumbency of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.
"Some of our Iraa veterans have graduated and now we are starting with a new breed. This is a challenge to all of us if the younger breed now can deliver," Pastor said.
In his message at the opening program last Sunday, Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. said victory of Pangasinan cannot be expected, yet, as there are five schools divisions in the province. These are Pangasinan 1, Pangasinan 2, San Carlos City, Alaminos City, and Urdaneta City (Dagupan City is an independent city).
But with the sports program the Provincial Government is developing, he remarked, Pangasinan as a whole will be very competitive in two to three year's time.
Next year's Iraa will be hosted by Dagupan City. (LCMY/Sunnex)
