April 7, 2006
Post -PRISAA games; praises and tributes
ALL THE WAY
by Philamer ‘PHIL’ C. CELI
IN the recently conducted 2006 PRISAA National Games at Lingayen, Pagasinan and Dagupan City, there were up or about 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials representing 16 regions who participated. After the week-long competitions in 12 sports and events and two cultural contests, Region VI or Western Visayas Region which shall incidentally host the 2007 PRISAA National Games in Iloilo City and Bacolod City, emerged as the region with the most number of gold, silver and bronze medals. Region VI duplicated the feat it achieved in last year’s PRISAA National Games in Zamboanga City.
Region XI or Southern Mindanao Region also repeated its performance last year to garner 1st runner up honors this year. The complete standings of all regions are as follows: 1. Region VI, 71 gold-75 silver-61 bronze; 2. Region XI, 61-52-50; 3. Region VII (Central Visayas), 47-30-56; 4. Region VI-A (Southern Tagalog/Calabarzon), 33-40-30; 5. Region I (Northern Luzon), 26-29-20; 6. National Capital Region – North, 10-0-0; 7. Region V (Bicol), 7-22-7; 8. National Capital Region – South, 6-4-1; 9. Region III (Central Luzon, 3-7-27; 10. Region XII (Central Mindanao) 1-4-3; 11. Region IX (Western Mindanao), 1-2-16; 12. Region II (Cagayan Valley), 1-18; 13. CARAGA Region, 0-1-1; 14. Region X (Northern Mindanao), 0-0-4; 15. Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), 0-0-1; and 16. Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 0-0-0.
The 26 gold medals tallied by Region I were produced by its athletes in athletics (24) and taekwondo (2). The 5th place standing of Region I this year is an improvement from its last year’s 7th place finish with 8 gold medals in athletics and taekwondo. In notching 3rd runner up, the Region also improved its place in basketball for men when in the previous years it cannot even enter the quarter finals.
In sincere recognition of the outstanding performance and achievement of the athletes who represented PRISAA Region I and have won medals in the last 2006 PRISAA National Games, Dr. Gonzalo T. Duque, PRISAA National and Region I President, tendered and hosted a fitting luncheon program, recently, at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Lyceum-Northwestern University, of which he is the president, in Dagupan City.
Awards of Achievement were presented to athletes in athletics, taekwondo, chess and softball for women, to wit: Athletics – 1. Rochelle Corpuz, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF), San Carlos City, Pangasinan, 5 gold medals; 2. Russel Camero, University of Luzon (UL), Dagupan City, 2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze; 3. Liza Casana (UL), 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze; 4. Analyn Muyano (UL), 2 gold, 2 silver; 5. Arcely Cabacungan, Lyceum-Northwestern University (LNU), Dagupan City, 1 gold, 1 silver; 6. Carlene Ventura (UL), 1 silver; 7. Romy de Guzman (UL), 4 gold, 4 silver; 8. Gabby Buenaflor (UL), 2 gold, 1 silver; 9. Avelino Ombajen, UL, 1 gold; 10. Bryan Aquinde (VMUF), 2 gold, 2 silver; 11. Jesus Castro (VMUF), 1 gold; 12. Aldrin Sendico (VMUF), 2 gold 3 silver; 13. Carl Marlon Sendico (VMUF), 1 gold, 2 silver; 14. Bryan Paul Lozaga, Union Christian College, San Fernando City, La Union, 1 silver, 15. Lester Ian Balcita (LNU), 1 silver; 16. Dennis Sabeniano (UL), 1 bronze; 17. Joebert Maraya (VMUF), 1 bronze.
Taekwondo – 1. Jeffrey Clata, University of Pangasinan (UPang), Dagupan City, 1 gold; 2. Liezl Enriquez (VMUF), 1 gold; 3. Kim Arrieta (UPang), 1 silver; 4. Veronica Daroy (UL), 1 silver; 5. Joseph Van Dacoscos, Union Christian College, San Fernando City, La Union, 1 bronze; 6. Jun-jun Sanchez (UL), 1 bronze; 7. Joycel Bautista (UL) 1 bronze.
Chess – 1. Marquette Agoo, Lorma College (LC), San Fernando City, La Union, 1 silver; 2. Nadine Tibule (UPang), 1 bronze; 3. Melody de Vera (UPang) 1 bronze; 4. Marjorie Apostol, San Carlos College, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, 1 bronze; 5. Marquette Agoo (LC), 1 bronze.
Softball (Women) – Laoag City PRISAA Division Softball Team, 9 bronze medals; Mutya ng PRISAA 2006 candidate Ms. Kristine Isabel C. Rapas (LNU) for garnering fourth runner up, was presented also an award.
Similar awards were also presented by Dr. Duque to Mr. Pinesterlo Lim (UL), PRISAA Region I coach in athletics for women; Ms. Nancy L. Navalta (LNU), PRISAA Region I assistant coach in athletics for women; Mr. Marcelino M. Dona (VMUF), PRISAA Region I coach in athletics for men; Mr. Dante Camaso (VMUF), PRISAA Region I trainer in athletics for men; Mr. Eduardo Bince (UL), PRISAA Region I Taekwondo Team coach for men; Ms. Lolita Morga (UPang), PRISAA Region I Taekwondo Team coach for women; and, Ms. Rosanna Estrada (LNU), PRISAA Region I Chess Team for women.
On the same occasion, Awards of Everlasting Gratitude were given to chairmen of the various working committees who in their assigned tasks have gone out of their way to serve and assist in the operations and management of the games and to the men and women of media and their respective entities for their untiring efforts in publishing and broadcasting the daily coverage of the results and activities of the games.
The athletes, players, coaches, and officials who in the 2006 PRISAA National Games were sincerely grateful to them for all the kind concern, invaluable service and assistance, and moral support they have rendered to make their participation in the said Games a very significant experience that made a great difference in their lives.
Dr. ‘Gonz’ Duque invited Peter C. Lee, president and general manager of the Ever Sporting Goods, a philanthropist sportsman, to be the guest speaker for that occasion; but, the latter begged off due to an earlier pressing engagement in Naga City. In making up for his absence, Mr. Lee donated modest cash awards for the gold medallists and the same were presented by Dr. Duque to the honorees.
At this point, the Official and Staff of PRISAA Region I headed by Dr. ‘Gonz’ Duque as PRISAA National and Region I President, wish to acknowledge and give thanks to the various government and non-government personalities, entities and individuals, universities and colleges, corporate sponsors, advertisers, friends in media (print, broadcast and television), PRISAA member and non-member schools, and the different sectors in the Province of Pangasinan, Municipalities of Lingayen and Binmaley, and the Cities of Alaminos, San Carlos, Urdaneta and Dagupan for their laudable service and distinctive contribution towards the successful conduct of the 2006 PRISAA Nationla Games.
The 2006 PRISAA National Games officially opened with the impressive pomp and pageantry befitting the host, on Monday, February 6, at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Grandstand, with Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. Immigration Commissioner Alipio F. Fernandez, Jr., chairman and president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) was the guest speaker during the closing ceremonies on Saturday, February 11, at the basketball gym of the NRSCC, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
