HOPING to make their endorsement count, ONE Championship lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang and World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship gold medalist Joerdon Dominguez are joining the pitch for the "Coolest Palaro" 2018.
Folayang and Dominguez joined Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan; La Trinidad, Benguet Mayor Romeo Salda; Benguet provincial administrator Noel Ngolob; and Department of Education (DepEd)–Cordillera regional director May Eclar during the signing of Pledge of Commitment including representatives from the academe, the private sector and other government agencies in the hopes Cordillera will be chosen among the five local government units in Luzon for the 2018 staging of the Palarong Pambansa.
“As an athlete, we believe it’s about time Baguio and Benguet host Palarong Pambansa and experience high altitude competition,” said Dominguez who has been a stable of sports competition since high school.
Folayang added aside from the hospitality, Baguio and Benguet’s weather remains an advantage which is conducive not only for training but also for competition.
Domogan expressed Baguio’s readiness of hosting the largest sports meet in the country while getting the backing of DepEd and nearby Benguet province for the co-hosting chores.
The mayor, together with Eclar has submitted the letter of intent of hosting the Palaro. Joining the bidding for the hosting are Ilagan in Isabela, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, the province of Bulacan, Tarlac, and Marikina.
Domogan stressed with the support of Benguet province and all stakeholders, “we are confident that our bid will be given favorable consideration by the Palarong Pambansa Technical Evaluation Committee headed by DepEd.”
While all the bidders for the upcoming Palaro remains potent competition for Baguio and Benguet, Domogan said the two LGUSs are currently working on their strength to edge the other bidders.
“When it comes to peace and order, we don’t have a problem, which is why when we present our bid, we should highlight this so the officials will give us favorable consideration,” said Domogan.
Despite the disadvantage, he believes that Baguio-Benguet can still pull it off. “We will bid as it is.”
Domogan said that the weather will be Baguio’s selling point when it so much cooler here during that period of the year, the hottest while in other areas, play starts at 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. when it stops and resumes only after 2 p.m.
The mayor says accommodation is not a problem because of its proximity with the venues.
And third, the venues because the universities have opened their doors and their gyms will be used during the week-long event, he added.
“The other bidders may have difficulty providing for some of the venues since they need yet to construct, while we can depend on our colleges,” he said. (Roderick Osis)