More than 6,000 athletes, coaches, and DepEd officials of the 10 competing schools divisions of Region I converged here in the province for this year’s Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet.

The athletic meet slated from April 19 to 22, 2005, featured First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies held April 19 at the Marcos Stadium in Laoag City.

In his speech, Arroyo encouraged the athletes to develop their mental toughness when engaging in their respective games, saying, “Beside the trainings and good coaches, concentration is necessary to win games”.

He also reiterated that politicking is already over as he stressed that he granted the invitation to come to Ilocos Norte for the 2005 IRAA Meet as a sign that politics is not a factor for him and his wife, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo lost in Ilocos Norte in the 2004 elections.

“Nandito ako ngayon para ipakita sa mga tao na tapos na ang eleksyon at ang sports ay isang magandang medium para magkaisa para sa bayan. Talo kami nu’ng eleksyon sa Ilocos Norte pero nandito ako. Tapos na ang eleksyon at dapat lamang na magkaisa na tayong lahat for the good of our country (I’m here today to show to the people that the election is over and sports is a good medium to unite the nation. We lost here in Ilocos Norte during the last election, but I still showed up here today. The election is already over and it’s only proper for all of us to unite for the good of our country),” Arroyo said.

A known sports patron who is currently leading the preparation for the country’s participation in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) this year and who was also in Las Vegas, Nevada during Manny Pacquiao’s losing effort against Eric Morales, Arroyo was invited by Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through his cousin Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member and Ilocos Norte Sports Development Council (INSDC) Chairman Michael M. Keon, who was also recently appointed as the national training director for the national athletes’ preparation for the SEAG.

In his speech Arroyo also acknowledged the training expertise of Keon who earlier molded Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros and Isidro del Prado among others when he was Gintong Alay chief.

Arroyo also expressed the national government’s full support in the sports development programs through athletic meets like the IRAA meet.

Meanwhile, Governor Marcos expressed his enthusiasm for Ilocos Norte’s hosting of this year’s IRAA meet, despite earlier announcement that the said athletic event for this year has been cancelled.

He has assured the participants that the province would extend to them the warm hospitality, which the province has known for.

However, he was quick to say, “The hospitality that we extend will end at the verge of the stadium.”

Marcos invited the delegates from all divisions to find time to “know our province a little bit.”

“Maybe go around and see what Ilocos Norte has to offer”, Marcos added.

Butch Ramirez, the acting chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Butch Tuazon, project director for the First Gentleman’s Foundation, Keon, were part of the Arroyo’s entourage that saw the solidarity of the region with the successful staging of this event.

Also present in the said affair, were Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Windell D. Chua, Department of Education officials led by Regional Director Dr. Vilma Labrador and Assistant Regional Director Ligaya Miguel, members of the provincial board and several local chief executives.

The theme for this year’s IRAA is “Celebrating Excellence in Sports in region I”.

Leilanie G. Adriano and Excel D. Guiang