ARCHER Charmaine Angela Villamor and swimmer Juan Miguel Santiago were the most bemedalled athletes at the close of the weeklong Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) hosted by Baguio City.
High school student Villamor led the city squad in archery after hitting seven gold and two silver medals while Santiago fished five gold medals in swimming to win the award in the elementary category.
Villamor captured the gold medals in the 30, 40, 50 and 60 meters as well as in the team match play together with team mates Andrea Alvaro, Kate Louise Balageo and Brette Leean Hongitan.
The Palarong Pambansa bound archer also took a gold medal in the mixed team match play with Angelo Calalo, who himself also won five gold medals in archery.
“Charmaine had just come from the Qualifying event in Manila this January for the Youth Olympic. Her exposure there and the earlier ones which she participated in had contributed to her performance here at the Caraa. It propelled her to be more aggressive and confident in her game,” said coach John Hongitan.
Hongitan added Villamor’s success inspired the team for their next event.
Villamor improved her six gold medal output from last year’s staging of Caraa with six gold medals and one silver.
Meanwhile elementary swimmer Santiago capped his performance with gold medals in 50 LC Meter butterfly, 100 meter butterfly, 200 LC meter Individual Medley Relay, 400 LC meter Freestyle and in the 200 400 meter medley relay together with team mates Luis Balagtery, Rimando Cyrus, and Nazario Daniel.
Kalinga –Tabuk City as most organized.
Delegates from Kalinga and Tabuk City were awarded the most organized delegate among all provinces.
According to Tabuk City Sports Coordinator Ramonchito Soriano, when they arrived in Baguio City, the values of discipline were already instilled to all the participants. The delegate composed of around 500 athletes, coaches and officials were billeted in Quezon Elementary School when they arrived since February 1 until February 8.
“Una sa lahat bago kami pumunta dito ininstill na namin ang disiplina sa ating mga atleta na kailangang dalhin natin ang disiplinang yan na nagmumula sa ating probinsya doon sa ating pupuntahan natin,” Soriano said.
“Ang mga bata naman ay sumunod sa aming mga bilin ng mga rules and regulations na aming itinakda na sang-ayon din sa rules ng Caraa organizers sa mga billeting schools, maging sa parade ay nagsimula na ang disiplina na yan,” Soriano added.
Caraa organizers admitted the delegates who came from night long travel showed organization during the parade and in most of the games in the city.
Soriano added they made sure all athletes coordinate when going somewhere for both safety and protection.
“Kung may lalabas kinakailangang magpaalam at kasama ang coach. Hindi sila basta lumalabas dahil ang tinitignan natin ay ang kapakanan ng mga bata,” Soriano added. (With a report from Ian Jefrey Addatu)