by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Apr 9 (PIA) – The city government of Lamitan play host to the 2012 athletic meet of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMMAA) from April 7 to 12 with the theme “Bridging peace, unity and development through sports.”
ARMMAA opened Saturday with street parade which culminated at the Lamitan City sports complex for the opening ceremony. More than three thousand athletes, coaches, and education officials coming from the twelve districts, provinces and cities under the autonomous region have gathered for the historic event.
In his welcome remarks, City Mayor Roderick Furigay welcomed the different delegations to the infant city of Lamitan. “We are honored to play host for the second time, the first time when we were still a municipality (in 2005),” he said.
“We may be limiting in terms of facilities but I am assuring you of the hospitality of the people of Lamitan in particular and the people of Basilan in general,” Furigay said.
Basilan Lone District Congressman Jim Hataman, meanwhile, congratulated Mayor Furigay and the people of Lamitan for hosting the event. He lauded the mayor for the development that he introduced to Lamitan, “showing to us the difference between a municipality and a city.”
In his message, the congressman cited that “for the ancient Greeks, sports were used to settle disputes in a healthy but peaceful competition.” He, on the same manner, urged the athletes to build diplomacy across the region through sports.
“Let us show that despite some differences, we can come together and show respect to one another to achieve one goal,” he said, enjoining them to celebrate unity and diversity through the games.
“In the graceful acceptance of win or loss we show our humanity,” he added.In his keynote speech, OIC ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman encouraged the young athletes to do more than “bridging” but instead become the bridge itself for peace, unity and development as they compete for the different sports events.
“Papayag ba kayo na maging daan lamang o tulay upang magkaroon ng pagkakaisa, kapayapaan, at pag-unlad sa ating pamayanan? Hindi lang po tayo tulay na halos nire-repair lagi, kundi dapat maging permanenteng tulay tayo,” he stressed.
He urged the region’s line agencies and departments, including the young athletes to “compete with your government officials” in bringing about reforms and changes in the ARMM, especially in reforming the education sector so that better and improved sports activities could be offered in the future.He encouraged the education officials and the athletes to aim for the Olympics, rather than being contented to compete in the regional or national and even Asian levels. “Let us dream to play for the Asian and Olympics. We can achieve this through discipline and unity,” Gov. Hataman said in Filipino as he at the same time called for steadfastness in reforming the ARMM. (RVC/PIA-9 ZBST)
