BAYBAY CITY-The Leyte Roaring Lions delegation is set to make a strong bid to reclaim the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) title at the weeklong sports competition which kicked off Sunday, March 1, 2026, hosted by the city.

Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Mariza Magan expressed confidence in the team’s potential, emphasizing discipline and unity as guiding principles.

“This year’s EVRAA is more than a showcase of athletic excellence; it is a celebration of discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the indomitable spirit of the Leyteño student athletes,” she said.

“With unity as our strength and excellence as our standard, we enter this competition with a clear and determined goal, which is to regain the crown and bring honor back to Leyte. We are proud of our recent triumphs, including ruling the 2026 Regional Festival of Talents and Regional Schools Press Conference, and we aim to build on that momentum,”Magan added.

Magan thanked coaches, trainers, officials, parents, students, and stakeholders “for their unwavering support and dedication to the athletes.”

“We thank you for your support, which has been instrumental in our preparation for this meet,” she said, urging the team to anchor every performance on integrity and respect.
“True victory reflects preparation, trust, and shared sacrifice,” Magan said.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendents Atty. Calick Arrieta and Teodorico Pelinio Jr., along with Schools Governance and Operations Division Chief Gil Esplanada and Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Grace Villanueva, coordinated training, logistics, and academic support.

Financial support from the Leyte provincial government under Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla reinforced preparations and athlete welfare.

Rex Briones, education program supervisor in English and head of the division publication team, said the Leyte Roaring Lions team “carries the pride of every school and community in Leyte, representing discipline in action and competing not only for medals but for the honor of Leyte and the values it stands for.”

The Leyte delegation has undergone intensive preparation, including a 20-day concentration training in Kananga.

The EVRAA Meet will feature competition among 13 schools divisions across the region.

(RONALD O. REYES)

BAYBAY CITY— Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda visited the city’s delegation billeted in schools here on March 1 to check on their condition and extend support ahead of the opening of the 2026 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet.

The weeklong regional sporting event, considered the biggest athletic competition of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas, officially opened Sunday, March 1, in Baybay City, drawing thousands of student-athletes from across the region.

During his visit, Agda, who was just concluded the six-month suspension, met with officials of the DepEd Borongan City Division led by Schools Division Superintendent Gorgonio Diaz Jr. to discuss any additional assistance needed by the athletes as competitions begin.
The mayor also personally conveyed his message of encouragement to the Borongan delegation, known as the Golden Sunrise Warriors, assuring them of the city government’s full backing throughout the tournament.

To ensure the convenience and safety of the athletes, Agda said the city government arranged transportation services from their billeting quarters to various competition venues through the local government unit’s coaster buses.

Joining the mayor during the visit were City Councilor Lyra Gel Limbauan-Devora, Association of Barangay Captains president Cheyney Ibarbia, and City Administrator Atty. Romeo Alexis Devora.

Around 712 delegates from Borongan City are competing in this year’s regional meet.
Agda expressed pride in the young athletes for representing Borongan in a major regional competition and wished them success as they compete in their respective events.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

BAYBAY CITY — Leyte Division opened its medal hunt in style at the 2026 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet as Crisha Mae Tajaros captured the first gold for the province in the Secondary Girls 3,000-meter run on Monday, March 2.
The victory, achieved at the New Binaybayon Sports Complex, gave Leyte’s 838-strong delegation an early boost in its bid for overall championship.

“Crisha Mae’s triumph is a shining example of what our athletes can achieve through hard work and determination. This win marks the start of a remarkable journey for her and the Leyte Division team,” said Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division Superintendent Mariza Magan.

Tajaros has built an impressive track record, winning gold at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte and recently securing a silver medal in the 3,000-meter run at the 14th ASEAN Schools Games in Brunei, the Philippines’ first podium finish at the tournament.
“Crisha Mae has set the bar high for our young athletes, and we expect great things from her and the rest of the Leyte Division team,” Magan added.

The DepEd Eastern Visayas Regional Office, which organizes the annual competition, hailed Tajaros’ performance as “a moment of pride, a triumph of endurance, and a victory for Leyte.”

“Crisha Mae dominated the track, proving that champions are built through discipline, resilience, and heart. Every stride reflected months of preparation, sacrifice, and an unbreakable spirit to bring honor to Leyte,” the regional office said.

The office further noted that the victory “sets the tone for EVRAA 2026—strong, focused, and fearless,” emphasizing that the win symbolizes what young athletes can achieve when passion meets perseverance.

The weeklong EVRAA Meet, Eastern Visayas’ largest inter-school sports tournament, has drawn over 10,000 participants, including student-athletes, coaches, trainers, and officials from 13 schools divisions.

The competition also serves as a qualifier to select the region’s representatives for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur.

(RONALD O. REYES)