Ormoc City has surged ahead in the 2025 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet, leading the official medal tally as of March 8. The highly competitive regional sporting event has drawn thousands of athletes from across Eastern Visayas, but Ormoc’s dominance remains unmatched.
The latest tally shows Ormoc City ahead of rival divisions. With three competition clusters held in Dolores, Eastern Samar; Maasin City; and Tacloban City, the battle for supremacy has been fierce.
Officials attribute the city’s success to years of intensive training, strategic athlete development, and unwavering support from the local government and education sector.
Ormoc City’s Winning Streak
Ormoc City’s student-athletes have consistently displayed outstanding performances in key disciplines. Their medal haul reflects not just talent but also rigorous preparation leading up to this year’s EVRAA Meet.
Local leaders, including Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and 4th District of Leyte Representative Richard Gomez, have been vocal in supporting sports development. The city’s strong backing for young athletes has resulted in improved training facilities and enhanced sports programs, setting them apart from other divisions.
In addition to securing golds in track and field events, Ormoc’s athletes have also dominated team sports, pushing their delegation further up the leaderboard. Coaches credit this success to discipline, teamwork, and a competitive mindset.
EVRAA 2025’s Grand Spectacle
The final leg of EVRAA 2025 kicked off on March 5 in Tacloban City, with more than 5,000 athletes and coaches gathering for the competition. Despite intermittent rains, the event commenced with great enthusiasm, featuring contests in archery, gymnastics, dancesport, wrestling, and para-athlete games.
Department of Education (DepEd) Eastern Visayas Assistant Regional Director Ronelo Al Firmo emphasized the event’s role in shaping young athletes. He noted how sports foster perseverance, excellence, and unity among students.
DepEd Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero also acknowledged the collaborative efforts that made the event possible, crediting the Tacloban City government and education officials for their full support.
Adding prestige to the opening ceremony, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and Tacloban native Aira Villegas led the lighting of the friendship urn. She was joined by Palarong Pambansa champions Jan Dwayne Malpas and Karl Eitan Reposar, along with Asia Tria Youth Championship gold medalist Yvaine Osias.
With competitions ongoing until March 9, participating teams are giving their all to close the gap. However, with Ormoc City firmly holding the top spot, rivals must deliver exceptional performances to challenge its lead.
As the final results loom, all eyes are on whether Ormoc can maintain its dominant position or if another division will stage a late-game upset.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.