Abrigo: Peek-a-boo

AFTER 69 years of hiding face from hosting a national sports competition, here we go again playing peek-a-boo!

It was in 1950 that Davao city hosted the 3rd Palarong Pambansa, the then Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games (BPSIAA). Today, with pride we are hosting the 62nd weeklong national games or the Palarong Pambansa 2019 which was officially opened yesterday through ceremonial torch lighting at the UP-Mindanao Sports Complex.

Davao city government allocated P69.3 million funding for the event and provided each delegation with buses, service vehicles for their marketing and errands, 15 sacks of rice and 70 kilos of meat. Drinking stations and wifi connections are also available in all 27 sporting venues for the athletes, officials, media, and for all spectators. There are more than 20,000 attendees composed of the game officials, coaches and athletes from 17 regions.

The Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) deployed more than 8,000 composite personnel to secure the sports venues and all billeting quarters.

This biggest sports gathering for school-aged children was organized and started in 1948 in Metro Manila. Although originally designed to be held annually, there were several reasons for the seven cancellations since its inception to date. The first time it was cancelled was in 1957 due to the death of President Ramon Magsaysay. Second was in 1972 because of the declaration of Martial Law; third, in 1980 when it was substituted by Palarong Bagong Lipunan; fourth was from 1984 to 1987 due to the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr and the EDSA Revolution.

In 1999 it was also cancelled for sundry reasons; in 2001 due to budgetary constraint and unstable peace and order in the host province of Lanao del Norte; and the last cancellation was in 2004 due to the National Election.

The national games also changed its name many times, from BPSIAA in 1948 to Palarong Pambansa ni 1974. Then in 1980 it was again changed into Palarong Bagong Lipunan; in 1984 into Palarong Pilipino Gintong Alay, until finally institutionalized its name into Palarong Pambansa through RA 10588 known as the Palarong Pambansa Act that became a law in 2013.

Through the years, Palarong Pambansa has produced national athletes like Elma Muros, Lydia de Vega, Akiko Thompson, Enchong Dee, Danny Ildefonso, Samboy Lim, Dyan Castillejo, Chieffy Caligdong, and Christopher Camcam, among others. But for us in the region, Mia Meagey Niñura is well-remembered. She received varsity recruitment offers from the University of Southern California and from the University of California Los Angeles.

Now that we opened our face, Davao must continue the peek-a-boo and produce new names in the world of sports, hurray!

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