By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – The 2014 Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association (ZPRAA) Meet officially started here on Sunday with a grand parade along the city’s major thoroughfares and an opening program at the Zamboanga del Norte Sports Complex.
The said activity, which will end on Feb, 28, has been participated in by the eight delegations from the divisions of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Pagadian City, Zamboanga City, Isabela City, Dipolog City and Dapitan City.
Spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd), this annual sports and athletic tournament is designed to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among athletes and players.
Athletes from both elementary and secondary schools in the region are vying for various sports and athletic events such as arnis, archery, basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, softball, gymnastics, wushu, taekwondo, lawn tennis, table tennis, billiards, sepak takraw, swimming, badminton and chess.
Mr. Ronillo Yarag, sports coordinator of DepEd-Dipolog City division said that this year’s ZPRAA meet is hosted by the city government of Dipolog.
“As of now, Dipolog has been proclaimed as champion of sepak takraw. We won this title for three consecutive years since 2012. We will be representing region 9 for the 2014 Palarong Pambansa to be held in Laguna,” Yarag disclosed.
It was also learned that Dipolog has tapped the expertise of seven trainers for its athletes aside from the teacher-coaches.
The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte is said to have also provided logistical support for the success of the event.