“Because sports is equalizing, sports unites.”
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said this as he expressed his support for more inclusive sporting opportunities for young athletes during the opening of the Palarong Panrehiyon (Regional Games) 2023 at the Marikina Sports Center on Saturday, April 22.
"Investing in our youth is caring for our future. Putting young people first is full-proofing our probabilities for sustainable development. Pangunahin sa lahat ang ating kabataan na kumakatawan sa ating mga pangarap, sa ating pag-asa, sa magandang bukas ng ating bayan at ng ating bansa (Let us let the youth, who embody our dreams and hopes for a brighter future for our city and country, lead us),” Teodoro remarked.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He emphasized how making games, training, and competition opportunities for young athletes inclusive and equitable are a “sustainable approach to inspire and create sports champions for the region and the country.”
“This is how we cheer our athletes to victory…We share their pride in their wins, their sadness in their losses, and together we motivate them to continue on playing and representing,” Teodoro said.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
By opening opportunities for them to compete, athletes are able to hone their skills and talents, develop their determination, drive, and sportsmanship, as well as reward their efforts and recognize their contributions.
“Magkakasama at iisa tayo sa pag-aalaga at pagpapalakas para sa kanilang saloobin; sa kanilang pangarap para sa kanilang laban; para sa kanilang pagtatangkang manalo at maiuwi ang tropeyo at medalya na minimithi; at higit sa lahat, tuparin ang kanilang pangarap para sa kanilang mga sarili, pamilya, komunidad, paaralan, at sa ating bansa -- para sa ating lahat (We are united in nurturing and strengthening our athletes in their dreams for their competitions, their hopes to win and take home trophies and medals, and above all, in fulfilling their dreams for their lives, families, communities, schools, and the country – for all of us)," he added.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Palarong Panrehiyon 2023 is a regional sports competition participated in by student athletes from various schools in the NCR’s 16 cities and one municipality, in preparation for the Palarong Pambansa (National Games) 2023, which will also be held in Marikina City in July.
Department of Education - National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) Director Wilfredo E. Cabral, DepEd NCR Assistant Regional Director Dr. Cristito A. Eco, officials and teachers from DepEd, local government representatives from Metro Manila, and around 2,000 athletes with their coaches and parents attended the opening ceremony.
This was the first on-site gathering of the regional games since the Covid-19 pandemic prohibited the conduct of contact sports and competitions shifted to online platforms during 2020.
Previously, Marikina City also hosted the opening of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)'s Friendship Games in June 2022.
READ MORE: Rep. Teodoro welcomes athletes as Marikina City opens CHED’s Friendship Games 2022