ATHLETES and coaches including officials will get a glimpse of the annual Baguio Flower Festival when the city hosts the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association next month.
Architect Alec Mapalo, city tourism officer, said the more than 6,000 delegates from the six provinces and Tabuk City will witness a grand opening that will be highlighted by the Panagbenga themed like performances from the different schools in the summer capital.
“We are ready to host CARAA. Athletes, coaches and other delegates will be having a glimpse of our flower festival during the opening,” he said.
With a theme “Stronger and bolder, soaring high Together,” the annual sports meet opens February 16 to 22 coinciding with annual flower fest which is expected to draw thousands of tourists.
Baguio, known as the ‘Lions’ will defend once again the over-all title with the city government allotting P10 million for the weeklong sports event against last year’s second placer Apayao Eagles and third placer Abra Stallions.
Other local government units competing in CARAA are Benguet Stingers, Ifugao Builders, Kalinga Bulls, Mountain Province Brave Mountainers, and Tabuk City Brewers.
Seven of the biggest elementary and high schools here will be utilized as sleeping quarters for athletes and delegates.
Baguio athletes will be billeted at the Baguio City High School (BCNHS) and will be the command center of the six-day annual sports meet where the technical committee led by Department of Education (DepEd)-Baguio and Cordillera personnel will be staying.
Apayao, the farthest among the six provinces of Cordillera with a minimum trip of at least 13 hours will be housed at the Baguio Central School.
Benguet will be housed at the Pines City National High School (PCNHS) and Josefa Cariño Elementary School while Abra will be staying at the Bonifacio Elementary School and the adjoining Guisad Valley National High School.
Mountain Province delegates will be housed at the Lucban Elementary School while Ifugao contingents will be billeted at the Quezon Elementary School with Kalinga to be accommodated at the Rizal Elementary and National High School.
CARAA will start with two major Baguio events to be staged on the same day, Feb. 16 and will coincide with the last day of the Philippine Military Academy homecoming.