Maguindanao Division 2, Lamitan City rule ARMAA 2017

UPI, Maguindanao– Maguindanao I and Lamitan City school divisions were declared overall champions at the elementary and secondary levels, respectively, as the 27thedition of the annual Palarong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletics Association (ARMMAA) wrapped up here on March 10, Friday.With a total haul of 28 gold medals, Maguindanao I division dominated the weeklong sporting event at the elementary school level while Basilan’s Lamitan City division garnered 49 gold medals at the secondary school level.Maguindanao II placed second overall at the elementary level, with 20 gold medals, followed by Tawi-Tawi with 14 and Sulu with 11 to round up the top four placers. While at the secondary level, Maguindanao II bagged second place with 40 gold medals, Maguindanao I with 25 and Tawi-Tawi with 20.Winners of this year’s special awards were Maguindanao I for the most disciplined delegation and Maguindanao II for the cleanest billet.Dr. John Magno, ARMM's Education department (DepEd-ARMM) secretary, said Palarong ARMMAA is the department's way of promoting physical education and sports as an integral part of the Basic Education Curriculum. Bad weather did not stop our best young athletes in the region from pushing this intense week of games, Sec. Magno said. We really prepared for this year’s Palarong ARMMAA, daily practice and team effort are the reasons why our division got the title, Saudi Dalu, Lamitan City division superintendent said. It was great spending here a week of sportsmanship, thrill, and excitement. ThemunicipalityofUpiis a very peaceful place and the people are very accommodating, Dalu added.The champions in the Palarong ARMMAA will represent the region in the upcoming 2017 Palarong Pambansa scheduledfrom April 23to 29 in Antique. The region is aiming for more medals this year.Norina Malaguit, Grade 9 student of theLamitanCityNationalHigh School, playingarnis,said she has been participating in Palarong ARMMAA since Grade 6 and has played in Palarong Pambansa for two years. Pangatlong taon na po na sasali ako sa Palarong Pambansa, at ngayong taon sisiguraduhin kong masusungkit ko na anggold medal, Malaguit said.In the 2016 Palarong Pambansa, the region bagged three gold medals, four silver medals, and 10 bronze medals. ARMMAA has served as the training ground for the region’s promising athletes.