Benguet: Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara urged over 4,000 athletes from the six provinces and two cities of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to aim for representing the Philippines in international sports events.
According to Philippines News Agency, Angara delivered this message during the opening of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) meet at the Wangal Sports Complex. The province of Benguet is hosting this annual grassroots athletic event, which is organized by DepEd.
Angara highlighted the journey of Olympic gold medalists Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, along with world champion EJ Obiena, who experienced setbacks before achieving international success. He emphasized that competitions are not solely about winning medals but also about demonstrating courage, discipline, and integrity.
The DepEd chief encouraged the athletes to approach their matches with determination, stating that while not everyone will become champions or stand on the podium, each participant has the opportunity to showcase their resilience.
Angara also noted the inclusion of weightlifting and pole vaulting in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa, scheduled to be held in Ilocos Norte in May. He congratulated the Cordillera region for their success in wushu and taekwondo during the last Palarong Pambansa in Cebu, reinforcing the region's strong athletic performance.
