NO LAVISH opening ceremonies is to be expected when the National Prisaa Games 2019 gets underway at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the sprawling University of Mindanao (UM) track oval in Matina, Davao City.
This was bared by Dabawenya National Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) president Ma. Lita Montalban during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao Thursday, May 16.
“During the parade, each region will be ushered in by performers who will showcase their cultural dances then after all the delegations have entered a mass dance will follow. We expect all guests and Prisaa officers to also join the mass dance. It will be fun,” Montalban, who was accompanied by secretary general Laureano “Boy” Santos, said.
Knowing the gargantuan task of hosting a huge sporting event like the National Prisaa Games 2019, she can’t help but thank all those who made their hosting possible.
She cited Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio through city administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez, chief-of-staff lawyer Raul Nadela, assistant city administrator Lawrence Bantiding and Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera for “making heaven and earth to make the hosting possible”.
She also thanked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by chairman William “Butch” Ramirez whose generous assistance will go a long way in making the successful hosting of the Games for high school and collegiate athletes; the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division and Region 11 office for their full support in providing billeting quarters and manpower to meet the accommodation needs of the delegates; and University of Mindanao president Guillermo P. Torres, Jr. who she said, “was giving Prisaa his 100 percent support from the very start”.
She also lauded the support of the Public Safety and Security Command Center, Task Force Davao, Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Philippine Regional Office (PRO) 11, Central 911, City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Bureau of Fire Protection, City Health Office, provincial government of Davao del Norte through Governor Anthony del Rosario, Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office, the media, and other partner agencies and organizations.
Prisaa Davao executive director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia, in a separate interview, recalled how surprised they were when Montalban made a bid that Davao City will host the National Prisaa Games 2019. “We were shocked (laughs) since it’s not easy to host a national event but since she was very determined, the region is backing her up,” Sarabia shared in the vernacular. He is in charge of the conduct of the games as he also selected the technical officials, mostly from Davao region, to spearhead the competitions.