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- EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
COTABATO CITY, February 22, 2025 (SDN) — It’s the time of year when young Bangsamoro elementary and high school athletes leverage their preparations and training in search of excellence in the sports field.
Yes, this the time of year for the annual Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (BARMMAA) Meet. It’s on its fourth edition in 2025.
The BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal has been organizing the regional sporting competition and being hosted by the Cotabato City Schools Division Office (SDO).
Related: MBHTE Holds 2-Day Refresher Course for 497 Technical Officials of BARMMAA Meet 2025 in Cotabato City
It will open on Sunday, February 23, with the colorful Parade of Athletes and concludes on February 26. Over 4,000 athletes joined by their school officials, technical officials and other participants will assemble in the City Plaza early morning, then march along Sinsuat Avenue to the Cotabato State University (CSU) Field.
The sports competition includes Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Boxing, Chess, Basketball, Billiards, Football, Futsal, Paragames, Pencak Silat, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, and Wushu.
As in previous editions of the regional event, the winning athletes in the various sports will represent the Bangsamoro region in the coming Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte.
Iqbal has cited the importance of the athletics meet, saying: “The values of sportsmanship are very important and, in the whole, it is more desirable than winning in any game.”
As the Islamic month of fasting nears and it’s just a few days away, Bangsamoro Sports Czar Dr. Yusoph Thong Amino, director of the Bureau of Physical Education and Sports Development (MBHTE-BPESD), told SDN – SciTech & Digital News in text message the MBHTE started the competition on Saturday, February 22, to make sure the participants from outside the city will be able to return home before the advent of Ramadan.
Amino said the events that were played before the formal opening are Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Taekwondo, Badminton, Tennis, Arnis, and Billiards. He added the rest of the games will be played after the Opening Program until the last day of the athletics meet.
“We started the games this morning to cope with the days of the games, giving time for our delegates coming from the BARMM’s island provinces (Basilan and Tawi-Tawi) to travel home before the start of Ramadan,” he said.
He said BARMMAA Meet 2025 has around 4,775 athletes from the region’s 11 schools division office (SDO).
After the morning Parade of Athletes, the Opening Ceremonies will kick off at the CSU Field.
The opening program starts with Mayor Mohammad Ali D. Matabalao of host Cotabato City local government unit (LGU); presentation of delegation by MBHTE Director General for Basic Education Abdullah P. Salik, Jr.; Raising of MBHTE Banner to be done by Minister Iqbal, Salik, Amino, and Director Johnny G. Balawag of Bureau of Education; Raising of BARMMAA Meet 2025 Banner by Director Dr. Daud S. Kadon of Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), Director Judith Caubalejo, BIPEd I, and Director Dr. Alkhan Sangcula, BSPED; Raising of Division Athletic Association and Delegation Banner by Delegation Heads and Athletic Managers; Lighting of the Urn by Selected Athlete of Each Delegation; Iqbal’s Inspirational Message; Oath of Sportsmanship by Selected Athletes and Coaches; Message of Support to be delivered by BARMM Senior Minister Abunawas S. Maslamama; Introduction of Keynote Speaker by MBHTE Deputy Minister Atty. Haron S. Meling; Keynote Speaker’s Message by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim; Releasing of Doves, Balloons, and Symbolic Sound of Agong by the Palarong Pambansa 2025 Athletic Board, Members and 11 Athletic Division, and Heads of the BARMM-MBHTE
Community Dance by SDO of Cotabato City; Declaration of the Opening of the BARMMAA Meet 2025; and Fireworks.
This year’s games edition’s theme takes on “Championing Peace and Unity through Bangsamoro Sports.” (/)