TORIL, DAVAO CITY – The delegates from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) arrived here yesterday and billeted at Don Juan Dela Cruz Central Elementary School, Davao City with at least 500 athletes, coaches, cooks, staff and consultant from Office of the Basic, Higher and Technical Education chaired by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal.
BPESE Director Dr. Bai Taya Aplal, Delegation Head said that the participants from the Division of Maguindanao 1 and 2, Lanao 1 and 2, Lamitan City and Basilan has arrived on April 21, and this morning the delegates from Sulu also arrived.
Aplal said that only Tawi-Tawi participants will be the last to arrive here.
Asked how does she feel about the new government, Aplal is elated that there is this new form of government in placed that caters to the aspiration of Bangsamoro people.
“Ang dinanadala natin ngayon ang mismong delegation ay BARMM athletic association lead by Hon. Mohagher Iqbal. Masaydong masaya dahil sa bago ito,” Aplal said.
“Our slogan for this Palarong Pambansa ay ‘Mighty BARMM’, that means we are for peace, depicting our values and discipline. Gusto natin mapagkaisa ang youth at Bangsamoro sa BARMM,” she said.
Aplal said that the purpose why they are participating is to make struggle through sports. “Ano ang mithiiin natin sa pagpunata dito, pumunta tayo dito para sa pakikibaka at para ito sa kabutinhan ng mga bata,” Aplal said further.
“If we want to reap our goal to have medals training lang yan and that is the basic paano makuha,” she added.
Aplal recalled that she and the office of the Minister issued a memorandum to do home-based training for the athletes before the actual competition.
She said that the BARMM athletic association will become champion in taekwondo and some event like soccer football, athletics, table tennis and chess. “The special events para sa may kapansanan last year ay kumuha din sila ng gold… ang sports ay para sa lahat walang kinikilingan at pinipili,” Aplal elaborated.
For her final message, she said that the BARMM delegates has unique values, custom and tradition. “We are honored to have our Islamic values wearing the banner of Islam over the other region,” she pointed out.
Aplal ask for prayers for the BARMM delegates and she thanked the BARMM Interim Chief Minister Al Hadj Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim for his undying support for the betterment of the Bangsamoro people.
The opening program of Palarong Pambansa 2019 with a theme is “Shaping the future through Sports” is set on April 28 with the honored guest President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.