DAGUPAN CITY -- A total of 1,748 medals are up for grabs in the ongoing Ilocos Region Athletic Association (Iraa) Meet, which officially started Monday morning.

Games in the different sporting events simultaneously started at the different venues.

The opening ceremony was held Sunday afternoon at the Dagupan City Astrodome.

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Keynote speaker was Education Undersecretary for Regional Operations Ramon Bacani.

Before the program, the athletes and coaches from the 14 school division in Ilocos region braved the heat as they parade around the city's main business districts.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernadez and Dagupan City Schools Division superintendent Aurora Domingo led the city and schools division officials in the parade.

Sangguning Kabataan (SK) City Federation president Carlos Alipio Serafin Fernandez lighted the Iraa friendship run and led the athlete's pledge.

Fernandez, himself an athlete, is a swimmer. He was a gold medalist in Iraa and Palarong Pambansa and in the Asean Age Group Swimming Championships. He is on a swimming scholarship at the University of the Philippines.

Dagupan Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., meanwhile, enjoined everybody to bring the regional sports to greater heights.

"Unity, commitment, victory, pride, and identity are the pillars from which Iraa gathers its inspiration and strength," Fernandez told the participants. (LCMY/Sunnex)