They have survived at least two major calamities in recent months and while these challenges prevented them from preparing to the fullest, student-athletes from Canlaon City have brought to the inaugural Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) the same fighting spirit they have used against the forces of nature.

The Schools Division of Canlaon is one of the leanest in the inaugural staging of the athletic meet in Bacolod City from March 1 to 6, 2026.

Attended by over 10,000 student-athletes, NIRAAM takes place almost two years since President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed the law that re-established the Negros Island Region in 2024.

For the student-athletes from Canlaon, preparations for the games were disrupted by two major obstacles – the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in November 2025 and the latest moderately explosive eruption of the Kanlaon Volcano in February 2026.

At least six residents of the city died in the typhoon while the February eruption of the volcano blanketed over 100 barangays in Negros Occidental with ash.

These events led to class suspensions, which meant trainings of the student-athletes also had to take a backseat. There were times when residents, the students included, could not leave their houses because of the ash fall.

“Apektado gid ang training sang mga atleta tungod sa class suspension, so nagauntat man ang ensayo… Nasanay na kami sa bulkan namon,” said Coach Renilyn Edjan.

But instead of getting frustrated, the students chose to use their experiences with calamities as inspiration to fight in NIRAAM.

Shortly after the meet opened, 12-year-old Arianne Garsilva bagged the bronze in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles.

She might have missed the gold but her teammates still call her their “golden girl” for being the first to get a medal for Canlaon City, and for her determination and dedication to the sport.

Meanwhile, her teammate, 17-year-old Diego Abondiente, made it to the finals of the secondary boys 400-meter hurdles.

This is but a feat for the boy who, when not training for his sport, balances schoolwork and work at the farm.

“Ginabalance-balance ko lang. Sobra kabudlay. Wala gid may naga-atipan sa akon,” he says.

For the student-athletes who survived the calamities in Canlaon, placing and winning at NIRAAM is an outcome much bigger than pride. It may mean access to additional resources in the form of cash incentive from the local government for their victory.

“Dako na ini nga journey para sa akon kay regional naman,” said Nicole Trasporto.

In the last stretch in the athletic meet, the student-athletes continue to give their all. After all, facing challenges is a fight certainly not new to them.