Maasin City Hosts EVRAA 2012

As early as February 2011, right after the opening ceremonies of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in Calbayog City, it was already agreed by the Regional Sports Board that Maasin City will be the host of the biggest gathering of athletes in the region by next year.  It was even announced during the closing ceremony to all athletes and officials “See you in Maasin City in 2012.”

It was a distinction that earned Maasin as an aggressive host.  Usually, hosts were determined just few months before the big event.  But when Southern Leyte deferred its hosting for 2012, it was Maasin’s turn to be offered as the next division to stage the annual sporting event.  

I consulted Gov. Damian Mercado and Cong. Roger Mercado if Southern Leyte is willing to help us as co-host of the EVRAA in 2012.  As expected, the two leaders gave their yes, and immediately I informed the DepEd Regional Office of our intention to accept the hosting of the big event.      

Then Maasin Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Escobarte informed the Regional Director Rosemarie Saet and the different superintendents were unanimous in awarding the hosting of the EVRAA 2012 to Maasin City.

On October 20, 2011, the 100 Days Countdown was launched at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza with Regional Sports Coordinator Cesar Verunque as the guest of honor.  It was attended by hundreds of athletes, officials, and teachers including city employees and the general public.  

But the preparations were disturbed by rains especially the preparation of the track and field oval at the Southern Leyte Sports Complex and the baseball and soccer fields.  However, covered courts were ready in the different barangays to host the indoor events.  Athletes’ trainings were also interrupted by the inclement weather.

Through the persistent preparation by the Maasin City Sports Council led by Atty. Feorillo Demeterio, Jr. and the City Schools Division Sports Coordinator Fernando Salapi, everything was ready including the billeting schools and the playing venues. Teachers and city employees provided beds and beddings for our delegations. 

Delegations kept arriving staring January 26, 2012.  And every thing was set for the opening ceremony.  The opening parade on January 29 kicked off the EVRAA 2012 from the plaza to the sports complex.  Delegations paraded in alphabetical order, starting with Biliran, Calbayog City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar. Ormoc City, Samar, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and the host Maasin City was the last. 

No less than Pilipinas Got Talent Grand Champion Maasinhon Trio serenaded the crowd.   Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, who was in-charge of sports in the DepEd, was the guest of honor.   Maasin City Division Superentindent Genis Murallos welcomed our delegations.  Cong. Mercado and Gov. Mercado and the provincial and city officials were there.  It showcased the unity and solidarity of our leaders which were not present in the other provinces and cities.   

As in any Olympics, SEA Games or Asian Games, the lighting of the Friendship Flame was the highlight of the opening.  Our national gold and silver medalists carried the torch around the track.   To the surprise of the audience, the runners stopped in front of the grandstand to turn over the privilege of lighting the urn to the “true champion of sports in Maasin City.”  I run with the athletes to the place where the urn was situated.  To the background music of the movie “Superman” and “The Ten Commandments” the urn was lighted and the EVRAA signage was lighted by fireworks.  

Another grand show of fireworks lighted the sky when the EVRAA 2012 was formally opened by Director Luisa Bautista-Yu.  All were impressed of the grand display of pyrotechnics which happened only in the Maasin hosting of the EVRAA.  What followed was the very enjoyable Welcome Night at the city gym. 

Competitions began on January 30.  As expected powerhouse Leyte dominated most of the games.  They are the biggest delegation numbering more than 600 athletes and officials.  Maasin City athletes fought hard to show the home crowd that we are determined to become champions in some events and to go for the gold.  

The most interesting of all was our delegation in the archery event.  Only three days before the start of the games, the bows ordered from Manila arrived.  The athletes practically were briefed on the basics of archery for two weeks only.  It was the first time we joined archery in the EVRAA.  The boys’ team placed 5^th and the girls’ team placed 6^th  out of 8 participating teams.  

We also fielded entries in arnis for the first time in EVRAA history.  And our girls garnered 6 gold medals enroute to winning the championship in their division.  They trained for only five months and started from scratch, like archery.    

Maasin City became champions in boys’ and girls’ swimming, girls’ volleyball, girls' lawn tennis, and boys’ boxing in the elementary and in the girls’ swimming, girls’ arnis, boys’ badminton, and boys' and girls’ table tennis in the secondary division.  In the elementary level, Leyte got 1^st place, Eastern Samar 2^nd place and Maasin City 3^rd place.  In the secondary level, Leyte got 1^st place, Eastern Samar 2^nd place, Ormoc City 3^rd place, and Maasin City tied with Tacloban City at 4^th place.

In the overall championship, Leyte was 1^st, Eastern Samar was 2^nd, and Maasin City was 3^rd.   Our consolation was that Maasin City emerged the top city as it bested Ormoc City (4^th place), Tacloban City (5^th place) and Calbayog City (10^th place).   The other delegations’ overall standings were Samar (6^th place), Northern Samar (7^th place), Southern Leyte (8^th place), and Biliran (9^th place). 

Maasin City became the champion in the secondary division when it hosted the EVRAA in 2005.  It was the time when the standings were decided in terms of medals won.  This time the point system similar to that of the Palarong Pambasa was used. 

On the other hand, if we failed to win the championship, we were rated “excellent” by Mr. Verunque on the matter of hosting the games.  During the evaluation conducted by the tournament managers days before the opening, they rated our playing venues at 95%.  According to them, this is the first time alternate venues were prepared for volleyball and lawn tennis in case it rains so the games won’t be interrupted.    And it was one of those rare EVRAA meets which were never postponed even if the preparations were disturbed by the rains.     

True to its theme “School Sports: Avenue for a Healthy Lifestyle,” the EVRAA 2012 was the first ever “Smoke-Free EVRAA.”  For it was held in the city that cares for the health.