Baguio City, Philippines – After a four-year hiatus, student-athletes from all over the country gathered in Marikina City for the much-anticipated comeback of Palarong Pambansa.
This year’s edition of the sporting event for elementary and secondary athletes, including the participation of foreign-based students, opened at the Marikina Sports Center on Monday, July 31.
Competing to grab some of the total 1,573 medals to be awarded to the top winners are 258 athletes representing Cordillera region. They are collectively called the “Fearless Highlanders.”
Cordilleran delegates are being joined by those from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon as Cluster 1, while forming Cluster 2 are those from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental & Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), NCR, and Bicol Region.
Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, along with those from Zamboanga Peninsula Region are under Cluster 3, and Cluster 4 is composed of those from Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCKSARGEN, CARAGA, and BARMM.
According to the Department of Education, measurable sports which follow standards such as distance, time, and points, will follow the qualifying criteria set by the Palarong Pambansa, while sports without qualifying standards in athlete selection and not categorized as team sports will directly proceed to the culminating competitions.
The top two regional delegations each cluster will advance to the main Palarong Pambansa event. The modification in the competition aims to prevent the disruption of classes and to observe minimum public health and safety protocols as stated in DepEd Order No. 34, s. 2022, and other relevant policies and guidelines issued.
In this year’s sporting tiff, a total of 34 para games, demonstrations, and exhibition sports will be held. These include indigenous games called “Laro ng Lahi,” cheerdance, weightlifting, and obstacle course under exhibition sports; and dancesport and pencak silat as demonstration sports.
Athletes with intellectual disability, visually impairment, and orthopedically handicapped/amputee (OH) under Special Education classes will be competing in separate events.
“You are already winners” – PBBM
Gracing the opening program, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said those who made it to the Palarong Pambansa are already winners for earning the privilege to represent their regions and schools through local competitions.
“And now, you represent your respective schools and localities. Compete with excellence, fairness, and integrity. It is also my hope that you will enjoy every moment in this competition and make memories during this competition that you will keep close to your heart for the rest of your life,” he added.
The event will conclude on August 5.
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