CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) – The Province of Isabela has once again proven its athletic dominance, emerging as the overall champion in the recently concluded 2025 Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CAVRAA) meet held in Santiago City.
Isabela’s athletes topped the medal tally with a total of 318 medals—117 gold, 101 silver, and 100 bronze. Cagayan placed second, followed by Nueva Vizcaya, Santiago City, and Quirino respectively.
This victory marks Isabela’s second consecutive championship in the regional competition, affirming its sustained excellence in sports.
“Our collective mindset was to maintain our dominance in swimming to stay on top and keep the championship title,” Eric Virgilio Reyes, a Palarong Pambansa qualifier and one of Isabela’s most decorated swimmers.
Manolo Bagunu, Isabela Division sports officer, credited the athletes’ success to an intensified training regimen.
“We made sure training was longer and more comprehensive this year, and our athletes gave their all,” he added.
Bagunu also highlighted the strategic approach taken this year, noting that the division conducted a comparative analysis of CAVRAA 2023 and 2024 performances to identify strengths and weaknesses.
“We focused on improving events where we were weak and reinforced our strong suits, particularly swimming, which has consistently yielded gold medals,” he explained.
Isabela Schools Division Superintendent Rachel Llana commended the athletes, coaches, and support staff for their dedication and teamwork.
She also expressed heartfelt thanks to the Provincial Government of Isabela and local government units for their unwavering support from the preparation stages through the actual competition.
“This victory is not just for the athletes, but for every Isabeleño who contributed to this journey,” she said. (MGE/PIA Isabela)
