Bacolod City held a ceremonial send-off on February 25 at Bacolod City National High School for 626 student-athletes and 276 coaches and training staff set to compete in the first-ever Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM). Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed his hope that Bacolod’s student-athletes will clinch the championship at the inaugural event. He noted that the athletes have great potential to bring more gold medals to the city and represent Bacolod at the national level. To fully support all delegates, the city government distributed a total of ₱9,471,000 in cash allowances during the ceremony. In addition to uniforms, shoes, hoodies, and ₱10,500 allocated for training and other needs, an extra ₱2,000 per participant will be released on Sunday—the first day of NIRAAM—to boost morale during the games. “We are hopeful that it will inspire the children since financial support is the usual concern because not all athletes have the capacity to fund themselves, and some of them use their talent for scholarships. By providing this training allowance, it will boost their morale and help with their needs,” the mayor said. Fourteen-year-old Sam Pampag, a two-time Batang Pinoy gold medalist from Romanito P. Maravilla Sr. National High School, shared that while she feels mixed emotions about the competition, she is confident in retaining her title. She prepares by seeking guidance from her faith, listening to her coach, and training diligently. Brianna Nikola Ang, team captain of the Tay Tung Thunderbolts girls’ volleyball team, noted that pressure affects all players, and success depends on how they manage it. She described their preparation process: “It wasn’t easy at first since we came from heavy conditioning, and we’re still recovering from that.” In related news, the city plans to break ground on a new football pitch with artificial turf behind Bacolod City National High School during the first week of March. (Bacolod City Communications Office)