By Bernard Ver
Contributor
Laoag City—The newly installed Unity Arc welcomed Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) meet delegates in Ilocos Norte.
Provincial tourism officer Aian Raquel said the installation of the arc at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Sports Stadium symbolizes not only unity, but also the rich culture of the Ilocanos—depicting the ‘La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc’ shrine. It has a theme: One Goal. One North!
The framework was designed by architect Allan Sonajo, an in-house builder of the provincial government. It was formed thru metal panel and its shapes are probably looks like a bow of the ship. The Arc also serves as a green structure too. It carries plants.
Mr. Raquel added that the artwork is detachable.
“It’s semi-permanent and can be dismantled and relocated. But for now, it will stay there. Hopefully even during the construction of the stadium”, Mr. Raquel affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte government is moving forward in developing the Marcos Stadium and there is already an allocated budget of more than PHP1 billion pesos for its minimal renovations.
Senior Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, in an interview, said, “It is indeed a long-overdue-work, the stadium is good but not the modern type of a sports center that we [Ilocanos] should enjoy. Every athlete and other individuals should be more comfortable on their stay.”
The R1AA meet started on the afternoon of March 6, 2019 with a 3 pm parade the city, the program proper began at 5 pm, and followed by the “Governor’s Night” at 8 pm with Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos. (Bernard Ver)