Baguio City seeks to continue its dominating streak during the 2019 CARAA at the expense of other provinces who are finding means to improve and suppress the country’s summer capital.
Baguio was still the undisputed favorite when the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) 2018 was held in Abra. The Summer Capital continued to dominate the annual regional meet for a decade and bagged the overall title in the past 16 years.
This year’s CARAA will be on February 27 to March 3 hosted by Apayao. The annual regional meet top prizes are expected to contested by more than 6,000 athletes from the CAR provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province who are accompanied by their around 100 coaches and officials.
The Apayao officials assured that the preparation of the venue is completed and now ready to launch at Luna before the start of CARAA 2019.
Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay President and Committee on Transport Chairman, Joefrey Blas, emphasized that the transportation will be ferrying the athletes, coaches and expected visitors safely and from the venue back to their site and to tour them on the different tourist attraction to showcase the wonders of Apayao.
There are 23 sporting events, with three new events debuting and be played as regular sports, in the 2019 edition of CARAA. This three events will include aero gymnastics, pencak silat, and dance sport.
Baguio City is still one of the strong contenders as they dominated the dance sport competition with two gold medals while snatching three more in pencak silat and another three in aero gymnastics when these three events were played as a demo sports last year.
Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Apayao, however, are stepping up their games to provide the spectator a one of a kind game and to challenge the city’s stronghold of the title, putting pressure to Baguio athletes.
According to the Baguio’s Men’s Volleyball team captain, Joshua Kodangos, their preparation this upcoming CARAA was intensive as they had to train everyday early in the morning and late at the afternoon. They also had tune up games with different teams here in Baguio to “jel” the team as one as they seek to snatch another gold medal.
Baguio City emerged as the over-all champion during the 2018 edition by running away with 222 gold medals, 102 silvers and 61 bronzes.
By: Ma. Muriel B Seguin. Muriel is a guest writer who is a senior high student of the University of the Cordilleras
