Maasin swimmers shines at the Batang Pinoy

Maasin City swimmers won medals in the Visayas Leg of Batang Pinoy 2013 held at the Leyte Sports Academy Center, this city. Coached by Jilma Maraon, the winners were Aris Maceda ,gold in the 50m butterfly and silver for 200m butterfly; Erica Caube, silver-50m breaststroke and silver 200m breaststroke; Lilibeth Payao, silver for 200m backstroke; Rolando Ambe, bronze,100m freestyle and Ryan Obida, silver-50m butterfly.

Other winners were Ina Maceda, bronze-200m breastroke; Jael Maraon, bronze-50m breaststroke and Prosper Joy Ambe, bronze- 800m freestyle bronze. Many were fascinated with the 14-strong Maasin swimming delegation because most topped the competition despite no available public swimming pools in the city, but only small private pools.

According to Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, there were 3,000 who joined the opening ceremony parade last September 24 held at the Southern Leyte Sports Complex in Maasin. “Sports and healthy lifestyle should go together,” Mayor Samaco said in his speech during the opening, underscoring his campaign against public smoking in the city.

Mayor also carried the torch and lighting of the urn which was the highlight of the ceremony. Jose Luis “Jolly” Gomez, PSC commissioner in charge of the Batang Pinoy, gave the keynote speech. He emphasized the significance of the grassroots program of the PSC which is quite different from that of the Palarong Pambansa.

“The Batang Pinoy is also open to out-of-school-youth. We have national winners in the Batang Pinoy who pursued their studies through the Alternative Learning System of the DepEd,” said Gomez. Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado, who headed the 73-strong Southern Leyte delegation, gave the welcome message in behalf of the province while this writer welcomed the delegates in behalf of the city.

According to city administrator lawyer Florillo “Bombom” Demeterio, next to Maasin which has 168 athletes, Cebu City has the most number with 107. The Philippine Olympic Committee was represented by Romeo Magat and Atty. Jay Alano, project director of the Batang Pinoy grace the event.