Aklan eyeing to host 2011 WVRAA, Palarong Pambansa
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez, Dr. Benny Palma, Ibajay mayor Maria Lourdes Miraflores, Makato mayor Ramon Legaspi, Jr. and Rev. Fr. Isauro David led the blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony at the Aklan Calangcang Sports Complex yesterday. Kalibo Cable TV production head Gary Vargas (lower photo) interviews Aklan Governor Marquez / PHOTOS BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – After the hosting of 2010 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet from March 14 to 19, the provincial government will bid again for next year’s biggest sporting event in the region and future Palarong Pambansa. Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said the WVRAA meet is a glorious and historic event for the Aklanons to showcase the facilities of the refurbished Aklan Calangcang Sports Complex to more than 5,000 athletes and officials.
‘Once a sleepy barangay, the Calangcang community will directly benefit from the hosting of regional sports event where economic activities of our micro-entrepreneurs, for sure, will prosper. Our ecotourism destinations in Aklan, especially Boracay will also benefit with the influx of athletes after the WVRAA. It’s all systems go for the premiere weeklong regional meet which we are hosting for the first time in 15 years,” he said after the blessing and inauguration of the sports complex in Makato, Aklan on Saturday afternoon.
The governor also wanted to host the 2011 edition of WVRAA and the next Palarong Pambansa for elementary and secondary divisions. Marquez said the sports facility is a joint venture of Aklan State University and the economic enterprise department of Aklan. Last year, he stressed, the provincial government entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ASU to rehabilitate and construct the sprawling 6.5-hectares sports complex in Barangay Calangcang.
The complex, a sports facility 8 km away from Kalibo, Aklan, boosts of Olympic size swimming pool, rubberized track and field, football basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and main grandstand. Other sports disciplines are played in the towns of Numancia, Makato and the capital town of Kalibo, including the cultural contest, fellowship night and the search for Mr. and Ms. WVRAA Palaro.

The province last hosted the WVRAA in 1995 and this year for the five other participating delegations of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.
“Although it is tough for the province, we can again play host to the 2011 WVRAA and future summer national sports event. Aklan is a peaceful province, proud of its hospitality and economic development,” he added.
Joining Marquez in the blessing and cutting of ribbon ceremony are Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Makato mayor Ramon Legaspi Jr., Ibajay mayor Maria Lourdes Miraflores, Dr. Benny Palma of ASU, Aklan Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Victorina Laroza, Provincial Administrator Atty. Diego Luces, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Jose Yap, Selwyn Ibarreta, Daisy Briones, Jun Rey Tordecillas, Rodson Mayor and Plaridel Morania, Provincial Engineer Victory Fernandez, department heads, Makato local officials.
Makato parish priest Rev. Fr. Isauro David officiated the blessing of the Aklan Calangcang Sports Complex yesterday.