7,000 Delegates from MBHTE’s 11 Schools Division across BARMM participate in the BARMMAA Meet 2024
COTABATO CITY (May 12, 2024) — Bangsamoro Director General for Basic Education Abdullah P. Salik, Jr, on a kick-off ceremony yesterday, May 11, held at Cotabato State University sports complex here in this City formally recognized the delegates from the participating schools division of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE).
The Bangsamoro education ministry said that there are 7,000 delegates from the 11 school divisions of Basilan, Lamitan City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City, Special Geographic Area, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur I, Lanao del Sur II, and Marawi City participated in the annual week-long sports event organized by the MBHTE Bureau of Physical Education and Sports Development (BPESD) headed by Bureau Director Dr. Yusoph “Thong” Amino.
The BARMAA Meet 2024 theme for this year’s sports competition is “Empowering Sports for a Stronger United Bangsamoro” which aims to provide opportunities for athletically talented students to showcase their talents in their respective sports and will end on May 15, 2024.
MBHTE said that athletes from the elementary and secondary levels of these divisions will compete in 22 sports events which include Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Baseball, Basketball, Billiard, Boxing, Chess, Dance Sports, Football, Futsal, Paralympics, Pencak Silat, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Wushu, and Wrestling.
Cotabato City Mayor Para sa Lahat Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalo on a video message said that his administration will give an all-out support to the BARMMAA 2024 being a host for the second time, “Mas lalo [naming] pinaghandaan at pinaghusayan ang pagiging host LGU sa ikalawang pagkakataon.”
“Give your best, strive for the championship, but please do not forget that the BARMMAA Meet may be a competition but the end goal is to bring out the best in all of us and unite us as a Bangsa,” he said.
MBHTE Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal said that BARMAA is “a platform that fosters regional identity and pride through interaction among athletes from various parts of the region.
Minister Iqbal recognized the dedication and hard work of the participants and reminded them not to be disheartened if they cannot be able to win in the games, “To all our athletes competing, your dedication, hard work, and the lessons you will learn along the way are what truly matter. While we hope for your victory, we encourage you not to be disheartened if you cannot stand on the winner’s podium. Your participation alone is a testament to your strength and commitment,” said Minister Iqbal.
Iqbal stressed that these young athletes represent the spirit of the Bangsamoro people – resilient, tenacious, and unyielding. “You remind us that we are not defined by our struggles but by how we face them and rise again. You are the personification of our strength and the ambassadors of our vibrant culture and traditions,” the Minister concluded.
Meanwhile, in a telecast message, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim assured that the Bangsamoro Government remains committed to supporting physical education and empowering sports as a means to achieve a stronger and more united Bangsamoro.
“The BARMMAA Meet is just the beginning of your many narratives of success and we cannot wait to hear your narratives and weigh it as part of our proud Bangsamoro story,” said Chief Minister Ebrahim.
The yearly sports competing event of the Bangsamoro region will choose those athletes who will excel in different sports disciplines for the Palarong Pambansa that will be held this July in Cebu City. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
