World champs asked to rally behind Palaro ’18 bid

MORE THAN offering the coolest Palarong Pambansa in years, the Department of Education in the Cordillera is seeking the help of world champions from the region to promote Baguio City and Benguet help as the next host of the biggest sporting event in the country.

DepEd information officer Georaloy Palaoay during a recent technical committee meeting, aside from the weather, the region boast of world class athletes which is eyed to help in the promotional bid of the Cordillera in winning the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa next year.

One Championship lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang, World Wushu Championship gold medalist Devine Wally and World Taekwondo Poomsae champion Jeordan Domingeuz will be sought by the technical committee, according to Palo-ay in promoting Baguio and Benguet as a sports hub in northern Luzon.

“Aside from Folayang and Wally, we will also seek the help of top caliber athletes like Carlos and son Iñigo, chess wiz Haridas Pascua, Chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, UAAP MVP Mary Joy Baron, and others for us to convince the Palaro Board that Baguio and Benguet is a sports destination,” Palao-ay said.

Palao-ay added with the world class athletes backing the city and nearby province in their bid, he hopes the Cordillera will finally get a chance to host one of the country’s biggest sporting events.

“Aside from our world class athletes, we offer the coolest weather which is conducive to playing sports event any time of the day,” added the DepEd official.

But more than the readiness to host, Palao-ay said they are also encouraging the help of the private sector and contribute whatever they can to assure Baguio and Benguet will win the hosting chore.

Earlier, DepEd-CAR regional director May Eclar rallied for the support of the private sector aside from the different local government units in Benguet as it finalizes the presentation of Baguio and Benguet in their bid to co-host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa.

“We believe that with the help of all stakeholders, we can win the bid for the hosting of Palarong Pamabansa,” Eclar said.

Eclar together with Baguio City Schools Superintendent Federico Martin , representatives from Baguio, La Trinidad and Benguet led by Provincial Administrator Noel Ngolob, the Baguio City Police Office and other agencies met recently to discussed the region’s capability of billeting more than 12,000 participants coming from the 18 regions in the country during the weeklong sports competition.

Aside from the billeting, the group also discussed venues for the games, security,