THE LAST two weeks of October is going to be a busy month for local athletes in the region with a couple of major sporting events unfolding.

As already calendared, some 286-strong delegates from Mindanao will leave the Cagayan de Oro port on October 21 for the first ever Milo Little Olympics National Finals the Queen City of the South will be hosting on October 23-25.

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"Doble lagare gyod ang mga atleta kay human sa Milolympics National Finals...Prisaa meet na dayon," said National Chess Arbiter Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon after attending the Prisaa (Private Schools Athletic Association) meeting early this month.

According to Megdonio Llamera, who conceptualized the staging of the Milolympics in wider scope, the Cagayan de Oro athletes--who will compose the biggest bulk of Mindanao team--will be returning home on October 27.

Cuizon said the more than a dozen Prisaa sporting events will be simultaneously played on October 28-29 or a day after the Milo Mindanao team's arrival at Cagayan de Oro's Macabalan port.

"That's the reason why ga-request mi na instead na mag boat mag-eroplano na lang pagbalik aron naa pay gamay nga time nga makapahulay. Ang uban sab sa amo mo-compete sa Manila," shared taekwondo coach George Arsenal Jr.

After the Prisaa Meet, its top qualifiers will slug it out with its worthy counterparts from the public schools (divided in two districts) and archrival Cosaa Meet in the City Quadrangular Meet tentatively set for December.

Survivors will then represent COAA or Cagayan de Oro delegation in the Regional Meet otherwise known as Palarong Pampook.

Meanwhile, Llamera said the Luzon team will be the biggest contingent in the National Milolympics at 381 with NCR (National Capital Region) and host Cebu placing the maximum numbers of entries at over 300.

At 286 (athletes, coaches and officials), Llamera said Mindanao squad will be the leanest in the four-team competition.

Llamera said Mindanao team will be provided with free hotel accommodation (Sugbutel near Cebu Pier), free meals and snack, one Milo shirt each to be worn during the opening and closing ceremonies, and boat fares (out and back) worth P2,000 (per head) by the sponsoring Nestle Philippines.

Regional Director Estrella Babano of Deped 10 will serve as delegation head for Mindanao contingent set to leave here on October 21 via Gothong Southern-Dona Rita Shipping Line.

"Dako sab nga tabang ilabi na sa mga coaches and trainers kon mohatag og allowance ang mga schools nga lakip niini nga sports competition," added Llamera, citing the so-called "Home of Champions" Corpus Christi as having the biggest bulk of reinforcement at over 50, followed by Xavier University (more than 30), and Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) at over 20.