OROQUIETA City, Misamis Occidental — Hindi lahat ng lugar sa Mindanao ay nababalot ng kaguluhan at bakbakan.
Ito ang nais iparating ng Oroquieta City sa buong Pilipinas sa pag-host nito ng Mindanao leg ng 2017 Batang Pinoy.
“We are much honored to show to you, our distinguished guests and delegates, how peaceful it is in our city, as well as to the rest of Mindanao. We would like also to thank you all as you compete, win or lose, and go home with pride as you share your experience, the beauty and the unity through sports,” sabi ni Misamis Occidental Governor Hermina Ramiro sa pagbubukas ng naturang palaro kahapon sa Misamis Occidental Provincial Athletics Complex.
Dagdag pa ni Ramiro, mapayapa at masagana ang pamumuhay sa Oroquieta kaya naman binansagan itong “City of Good Life”.
Hindi nakadalo sa opening ceremony si Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez pero binasa ni Batang Pinoy oversight chairman at PSC commissioner Fatima Celia Hicarte-Kiram ang mensahe ni Ramirez sa mahigit 4,000 atleta at coaches na lumahok sa Mindanao leg.
“There is a hopeful spirit in sports these days towards unity. And it is the hope of the PSC Board that the youth can have a healing start in peacemaking, unity and healthy competition through sports,” ayon sa mensahe ni Ramirez na binasa ni Hicarte-Kiram. —Angelito Oredo