LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – On February 27, City Mayor Darwin Estrañero visited the Tabuk City delegates to the 2025 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) at their camp inside the Benguet State University- Secondary Laboratory School, delivering an inspirational message and expressing his full support for the entire delegation.
“It’s not about winning but the experience, the joy and the learning that is brought to us by our participation in this annual regional athletic event that matters– the CARAA,” said Estrañero. He encouraged the young athletes to pursue their goal which is to succeed in their respective sports, emphasizing, “The outcome of this CARAA 2025 should not be a reason to stop struggling in our vision of a more developed sports program in the City of Tabuk.”
Highlighting the city’s commitment to sports development, the mayor assured the delegation that the city government will increase the budget to address the needs of the Tabuk delegation for CARAA 2026. He stressed the importance of lengthening the training period for potential athletes, enhancing the skills and knowledge of coaches, and potentially hiring a caliber trainer. “Kasapulan tayu samet ti nalaing a trainor tapnu maipasigurado ti napinpintas pay a panagay-ayam dagitoy kadagiti sumarsaruno a CARAA Meet,” exclaimed the mayor.
Acknowledging the athletes’ achievements, Mayor Estrañero referred to the latest partial unofficial results of the CARAA medal tally, where Tabuk City secured 13 Golds, 16 Silvers, and 42 Bronze. “Tabuk City is still proud because our athletes are one of the consistent medal contributors for the Cordillera delegation during Palarong Pambansa,” he stated. He cited examples from the previous year, including Japheth Pallogan’s Gold in Wushu, Arriane Rae Bulwayan and AJ Angelo Oliveros’s bronze medals, and Shallyne Joy Tallog’s Silver in Taekwondo.
Following his message, Estrañero personally handed over monetary incentives to the latest batch of medal-winning athletes. In a move designed to further motivate the athletes, the city government, under Estrañero’s leadership, has implemented an immediate awarding of monetary incentives to medal winners. This strategy aims to inspire and challenge every athlete from the city to perform at their best.
To date, an amount exceeding 1 million pesos has already been distributed to athletes who have won medals since the first day of the week-long CARAA 2025. By Jesse Maguiya
