SCUAA Games get underway in Isabela

The 2011 SCUAA National Olympics goes full blast on Tuesday (February 22) at the Melanio Sports Complex in Ilagan, Isabela, with more than 5,000 athletes and officials taking part in 14 sporting events. Action begins at exactly 7 a.m. A total of 109 state universities and colleges in 16 regions all over the country are represented in this week-long competition organized by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and hosted by the provincial government of Ilagan, Isabela. On Monday, Isabela Gov. Faustino “Bogie" Dy III formally welcomed the participants who will compete in athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, dancesports, football, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and volleyball. Also launched was the “Search for the Miss SCUAA 2011" to detemrine the country’s representative to the Miss University World in Seoul, South Korea. The SCUAA beauty contest is scheduled at 6 p.m. today at the FLDY Coliseum. “The 2011 SCUAA National Olympics is a good vehicle for the tertiary students to participate in sports competition. It will also enable the outstanding athletes from all over the country to show their skills and talents and someday represent the country in international sports competitions," said PASUC president Dr. Lauro B. Tacbas. Assisting Dr. Tacbas in running the event iare Dr. Roger Perez, president of the Cagayan State University-Tuguegarao City and secretary-general of the 2011 SCUAA National Olytmpics, and Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, president of the host Isabela State University and PASUC vice-president for Luzon. Fellowship nights hosted by Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, Ilagan Mayor Jay Diaz and Cauayan Mayor Ben Dy will also be held from Feb. 23 to 25. The Parokya ni Edgar wil be the featured artists during the Athletes Night on Feb. 24. The championships, as well as the awarding and closing ceremony, will be held on Feb. 26. The participating regions are National Capital Region, Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga/ARMM, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao and CARAGA. One of the leading delegations is the 375-strong Western Visayas contingent. Led by PASUC Region VI chairperson and Aklan State University president Dr. Benny A. Palma, the Western Visayas athletes are favored in basketball, football, softball, swimming and volleyball events. Western Visayas emerged as the overall champion when the Palarong Pambansa was last held in Ilagan, Isabela in 1993. - KY, RCJ, GMA News