‘Kayat yo ba nga adda sports facilities tayo a mayat?’ – Mayor Gumilab to DepEd and Kalinga athletes

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Speaking to a group of teacher coaches and student-athletes during the conduct of the 2025 Kalinga Provincial Meet in Tabuk City, Mayor Sacrament Gumilab of Tinglayan asked the long overdue question, ‘Kayat yo ba nga… adda sports facilities tayo a mayat?

Gumilab posed the question after expressing his dismay over the lack of sport facilities for students to prepare themselves to win in regional or higher sporting events.

“Ninth year [as mayor attending Provincial Meet], kastoy latta iti set-up tayo. Awan iti ustu nga sports facilities,” said Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, challenging the leaders of Kalinga to be united in improving sports facilities in the province.

In the last nine years, Kalinga aimed to elevate its ranking in the CARAA Meet. However, the province’s standing was only playing between 6th – 8th, and it was only in 2016 and 2017 that the province which was then still combined with Tabuk City earned the 5th and 4th spot, respectively.

For three-term Mayor Gumilab who has been attending the Kalinga Provincial Athletic meet since 2016, the problem was largely due to inadequate training facilities.   

“Kuna tayo mangabak tayo iti CARAA, puro kulelat iti Kalinga… wen ah ta awan iti sports facilities nga kunan dagiti coaches – awan iti amin nga pag-trainingan,” the mayor emphasized, adding that if Apayao was able to have its own well-equipped Sports Complex, it is also possible for Kalinga.

To achieve the long-time goal of taking home the higher spots in the regional sports festival ranking, Gumilab reiterated that the establishment of sports facilities is first priority if Kalinga wants its athletes to get a good training and improve their skills.

“Tatta daytoy iti challenge. Kasanu tayo nga mangabak nga taga Kalinga. Masapul nga i-prepare tayo isuda nga ma-train nga ustu. Kunan manen iti coaches, kasanu nga i-train tayo nga awan manen iti pag-trainingan da? Isu nga agsubli tayo manen nga umuna latta nga i-prepare tayo ti facilities,” he stressed.

With the upcoming CARAA Meet in Benguet, Gumilab wishes the Kalinga delegates well, assuring them of his hundred percent support to the delegation.