Xavier Ateneo Sports Centre. Photo courtesy of Project Lupad

This year’s CEAP Mindanao Games, with the theme “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, Empowered,” will feature 16 sports to be played in different venues in Cagayan de Oro City from February 6 to 10. 

The Xavier Ateneo Sports Centre in Pueblo de Oro will be the venue of the athletics, badminton, basketball, dance sports, football, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, vocal singing, and volleyball.

The Xavier University main campus will be the venue of volleyball (XU Gymnasium), baseball and softball (XU Football Field), and futsal and sepak takraw (XU Covered Courts). The lawn tennis will be played in Grand Europa.

All regions of Mindanao, except ARMM, will compete in this annual sporting event. Region IX will be headed by Rommel Cuaresma of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU); Region X will be headed by Fr Max V Ceballos SSJV (CEAP-X regional trustee); Region XI will be headed by Billy Cruzada, Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) sports coordinator; Region XII will be headed by Ernesto Allado, director of student affairs of Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC); and Region XIII (CARAGA) will be headed by Lilibeth N Boligor of Fr Saturnino Urios University (FSUU).

Over 1,200 athletes from 5 regions will compete in different events, both for basic education and higher education categories.  

The CEAP Mindanao Games 2019 will formally open with a concelebrated mass to be presided by CDO Archbishop Antonio J Ledesma. Concelebrating it is Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, president of Xavier University, and Fr Max V Ceballos SSJV, CEAP-X regional trustee. The mass will be at the new Xavier Ateneo Sports Centre and will start at 6PM. This will be followed with a short opening program, dinner, and solidarity meeting of all tournament managers and coaches.

Other activities include a TED Talk on February 7, Thursday, to be given by Revi Saber Sumndad Sani, Karatedo coach from MSU; and the CEAP Trivia, Popcorn, and Movie Night on February 8, Friday, to be hosted by MLSA alumni. A cultural night scheduled on February 9, Saturday, will be hosted by Chiedel Joan G San Diego of La Salle University of Ozamiz.  

This year’s CEAP Mindanao Games is made possible through the support of the local government unit of Cagayan de Oro, headed by the Mayor Oscar S Moreno and the Department of Education (DepEd) - Division of Cagayan de Oro, headed by Dr Jonathan S dela Pena, schools division superintendent. The organizers also thank the principals of the three partner schools: Dr Celso L. Pagulon of West City Central School, Dr Catalina Q Oliveros of Fr Masterson Elementary School, and Dr Cristina Ganas of Lumbia National HS.∎