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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
COTABATO CITY, May 15, 2024 (SDN) — BARMMAA Meet 2024 concluded with a bang, especially for the school division office of Cotabato City.
From May 11 to 15, over 4,000 young elementary and high school students battled for glory, honor, bragging rights, and the privilege to represent the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to the Palarong Pambansa (National Games) 2024 in Cebu City, the Visayas.
They showed their skills as they battled for the crowns in 23 sports events, such as Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Boxing, Chess, Basketball, Billiards, Football, Futsal, Para-Games, Pencak Silat, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, and Wushu.
Earlier, Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal described the sporting spectacle “as a platform that fosters regional identity and pride through interaction among athletes from various parts of the region.”
“You remind us that we are not defined by our struggles but by how we face them and rise again. You are the personification of our strength and the ambassadors of our vibrant culture and traditions,” he said.
BARMMAA Meet 2024 revolves around the theme “Empowering Sports for a Stronger United Bangsamoro.” It started on May 11 and concludes today, May 15, with the announcement of winners.
After the smoke of battle cleared, Cotabato City SDO athletes took the Overall Champion crown for Elementary (Primary) and the Overall Crown for High School (Secondary).
As Overall Champion in the Elementary (Primary) Level, Cotabato won Php150,000 and a well-crafted Trophy; for High School (Secondary) Level, it’s also Php150,000 and a Trophy; as grand Overall Champion, the reward is Php200,000 and a Trophy. Not to say bragging rights!
The girls and boys athletes of Cotabato City SDO showed their collective mettle in the various sports events, beating out 11 other SDOs who, naturally, put spirited competition.
SDO delegations came from Basilan, Lamitan City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City, Special Geographic Area (SGA), Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur I, Lanao del Sur II, and Marawi City.
Cotabato City SDO’s sterling performance in this year’s sporting competition is actually a repeat of its feats in BARMMAA Meet 2023, during which its athletes also snatched the Overall Champion crown in Elementary, and Overall Champion crown in High School, and the grand Overall Champion crown.
Bruce Matabalao, the mayor of the host city, thanked the MBHTE headed by Iqbal, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP), for giving Cotabato the opportunity to once again host the annual sporting competition. The city chief executive dubbed “Mayor para sa lahat” (Mayor for all) indicated his willingness to host the regional games in 2025.
In his short remarks at the Closing Ceremonies on May 15, the mayor revealed that some members of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) contributed funds totaling Php330,000 as incentive for the SDOs.
Matabalao said the amount was divided equally at Php30,000 given to each of the 11 SDOs.
In relation with the incentive, a total of Php30,000 amount was given for the BARMMAA Meet 2024 technical officials, which was received on their behalf by BARMMAA Meet 2024 sports czar Dr. Yusoph Thong Amino, executive director of the Bureau of Physical Education and Sports Development (MBHTE-BPESD).
MBHTE Director General for Basic Education Abdullah P. Salik, Jr. lauded the regional athletes for their performance during the five-day sports activities, saying they are a credit to their respective SDOs and particular schools.
Salik, Jr. added that sports is a molder of character, of discipline, of patience, of determination, of sportsmanship, and persistence.
The MBHTE director general said in a conversation with SDN — SciTech and Digital News the MBHTE leadership under Iqbal expects the BARMMAA Meet 2024 winners who will represent the BARMM in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa 2024 in Cebu City to be ambassadors of goodwill and make their schools proud.
On the other hand, Amino said the cash prize for the winning SDOs and Special Awards out of the Php1-million incentive is broken down into the following:
- Overall Champion — Php200,000
- 1st Overall Champion — Php150,000
- 2nd Overall Champion — Php100,000
- 3rd Overall Champion — Php75,000
- Champion, Elementary Level — Php150,000
- Champion, Secondary Level — Php150,000
Special Awards
- Most Disciplined Delegation — Php25,000
- Most Friendly Delegation — Php25,000
- Eco-Friendliest Delegation — Php25,000
- Best in Saludo Delegation — Php25,000
- Best in Uniform Delegation — Php25,000
- Best in Records and Management Delegation — Php25,000
- Best Host/Billeting School — Php25,000
The city mayor said in a diverse region like the Bangsamoro with different religions, ethnic communities, and cultures, “sports serves as a universal language that ignites inspiration.”
“Continue to support and uplift each other, keep running, keep playing, keep striving,” Matabalao encouraged the regional athletes. (/)