CORPUS Christi of Cagayan de Oro leads less than 100 schools in Mindanao seeing action in the 12th Milo Little Olympics which opens on Friday at the Capitol grounds.

The Barangay Macasandig-based Corpus Christi, which has already produced score of national caliber athletes, will compete in all 11 sports disciplines featured in the Mindanao-wide meet such as swimming, athletics, volleyball, lawn tennis, table tennis, football, chess, gymnastics, sepak takraw, badminton and taekwondo.

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Friday's ceremonial rites after the 1 p.m. opening parade and various field demonstrations will have Dep-ed Northern Mindanao Director Estrella A. Babano, Congressman Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano of the 2nd district of Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino "Tinnex" Jaraula and Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno among the honorable guests.

Except lawn tennis, event coordinator Megdonio Llamera said the rest of the games will be held in the different playing venues outside the still under-repair Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.

At least 80 schools (40 in elementary and 40 in secondary) from as far as Davao, Cotabato, GenSan and Zamboanga have registered to vie for honors in the annual Milolympics.

"Expected nga aduna pay mo-apas so, dili lang otsenta (80) ka eskwelahan ang moapil," said Llamera.

Competition goes into full throttle on Saturday and Sunday with the medal-rich swimming deemed to be disputed on Monday or Tuesday, owing to the unavailability of swimming venue as of presstime. (LLS)

(November 21, 2008 issue)