Cordillera regional sports meet opens in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Feb. 22, 2026) — The Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet 2026 opened Sunday with a parade of delegations, launching a week-long regional sports competition in Benguet.

Student-athletes from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and the cities of Baguio and Tabuk marched from the Benguet State University oval to the Benguet Sports Complex for the opening program.

DepEd-Cordillera Regional Director Estela Leon-Cariño formally declared the games open, with competitions scheduled from Feb. 23 to 27 at designated venues across the province.

The closing and awarding ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Benguet Sports Complex.

Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap, joined by Gov. Melchor Diclas and other provincial and local officials, welcomed the contingents and pledged support for all competing teams.

In his remarks, Yap underscored the importance of discipline and character as foundations of athletic success, stressing that encouragement and positive reinforcement can shape confidence as much as physical training.

He invoked the story of inventor Thomas Edison, who overcame challenges through perseverance and belief in his abilities, to illustrate how words of support can influence outcomes.

Yap urged athletes to compete with intensity while maintaining respect, noting that “before you can control the ball, the racket, or your body, you must learn to control what comes out of your mouth.”

This year’s meet carries the theme, “Sustaining a United and Healthier Cordillera through Sports,” underscoring regional solidarity and wellness through athletic competition.