Friday, November 14, 2008 MCG underway at UM-Matina By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
AN ATHLETE from war-torn Midsayap will light the torch of the historic First Mindanao Children's Game (MCG), which unfolds starting at 8 a.m. Friday at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina Gym.
MCG project director Joseph Encabo, speaking at the regular Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn Thursday, said giving the role to an internally displaced kid from Midsayap is very symbolic as he “carries the light of peace, hope, and unity that the Games signify."
"He can be an instrument in making the flame of peace wider," Encabo said, adding that the MCG will show the country and the whole world that Mindanao can be one.
"We want to tell everybody that we are one in sports. We are one Mindanao," Encabo said.
Some 50 participants from Midsayap will join some 1,200 delegates in the eight-sport three-day competition that aims to promote peace through sports and to serve as a venue for talent identification which is one of the thrusts of the Philippine Sports Commission, the chief organizer of the MCG.
Encabo, who is also the senior executive assistant of PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, said Davao City has the biggest delegation with participants coming from the city's remotest barangays like the Malabog Central Elementary School, Polocon Elementary School, and Amigo School of Calinan, among others.
He said Davao Oriental is the second biggest delegation with close to a 100 athletes seeing action in basketball, table tennis, baseball, volleyball, and swimming while Davao del Norte has some 30 participants seeing action in table tennis, taekwondo, and swimming.
Davao Oriental provincial sports coordinator Helino Abrahan Jr., in an interview with Sun.Star Wednesday, said Gov. Corazon Malanyaon supported the province's delegation that will be billeted at a downtown hotel.
"Davao Oriental athletes will be forces to reckon with in various sports," Encabo said.
Cagayan de Oro City, meanwhile, will have entries in basketball and table tennis.
Ramirez and his commissioners--Gillian Akiko Thomson, Eric Loretizo and Fr. Vicente Uy, SVD--will be in full force at the opening rites.
Two-time Olympian and pride of Davao, diving champion Sheila Mae Perez, will be the special guest of honor.
"Perez is very appropriate guest to speak before the children athletes being a model athlete in Philippine sports," Encabo said.
Chess, featuring three categories, will be played at the SM City Davao while the two-division football will be at the Tionko Football Grounds in Buhangin. The rest of the events will be at UM Matina including the oratorical contest set on Saturday at 1 to 5 p.m.
