PRISAA 2013 starts wth a Big Bang

Lingayen- - -The 2013 Private Schools Athletic Association National Collegiate Games opened yesterday, February 11, with a big bang as around 6,000 athletes, coaches and game officials coming from 17 regions all over the country will vie for the championship with 18 sporting events on deck starting February 12 to 16.

The opening ceremonies kicked off with an athletic parade with the Capitol complex as starting point that went straight to Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), the main venue. Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan, who represented Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., said that Pangasinan is doubly elated to host the event for the second time (first of which was in 2006) for the reason that this year, the venue is more presentable as the entire wing of the grandstand is now complete.


“This is the first time that the grandstand of this sports complex will be utilized in full,” Baraan said as he stressed that the construction of the additional wing was made possible during the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa 2012 last summer. Baraan said that aside from the utilization of the grandstand with its newly constructed wings, the PRISAA event this year has a lot of first time happenings such as the inclusion of secondary level athletes and the realization of the envisioned Sports Academy of the governor which will soon open after the conduct of the collegiate games.

The provincial administrator noted that a P15 million initial allocation was set aside to fund the initial activities of the very first sports academy in the entire country. Moreover, Baraan said that Gov. Espino is fully supportive of sports development program as he firmly believed in the prowess and agility of every Filipino athlete as he further hope that the future Olympic medalists will be produced from the national collegiate games.

Most Reverend Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of the Lingayen-Dagupan Diocese who likewise served as the guest of honor and speaker, urged all young athletes to continuously remember the importance of having a clean soul and love of God as two basic things in the making of a champion. “Kung maglalaro kayo ng buong kaluluwa at maglaro na kasama ang Diyos, magkakaroon kayo ng buhay na walang hanggan,” the archbishop said. Dr. Gonzalo Duque, National President of PRISAA, thanked the provincial government for their continuing support to youth and sports development as he stated that Gov. Espino has led the crusade in maintaining full maintenance of the sports complex as he vowed to further the cause of sports development thrust in dedication to all Pangasinense youths and Filipino athletes as well.

Aside from the scheduled team and individual sports competitions starting February 12, several activities have been lined up such as Mutya ng PRISAA pageant (Feb. 13) to be held also at the elegant Sison Auditorium, Heart Night Party and Fellowship (Feb. 14) at the beachfront Capitol complex, and Governor’s Night and Cultural Showcase (Feb. 15) also at the Sison Auditorium here. Closing ceremonies will be on February 16 at the NRSCC gymnasium.