A DIFFERENT kind of race and a more honest one formally kicked off over the weekend with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcoming young athletes from all over the country to this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
The President’s home province hosts the 65th edition of the national games looking for the next Lydia de Vega, Hidilyn Diaz, or Carlos Yulo while in their elementary and high school uniforms.
At least 15,000 delegates from athletic associations from the country’s 18 regions, the National Academy of Sports, and the Philippine Overseas Schools are gathering in Ilocos Norte until May 31.
The student-athletes will be competing in several sports events including athletics, swimming and Arnis with, the National Capital Region gunning for its 18th straight overall title.
Our Palaro is a genuine grassroots training ground for local athletes.
In many countries like US and Japan, sports development begins at the early age of six to seven years, but we all know this is also a function of wealth and resources.
‘This year’s Palaro should be a welcome relief for election-weary Filipinos who would be glad to note that the game results are not subject to a recount or point-shaving.’
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the lead sports agency, was given a budget of P725 million in 2025 from last year’s P1.156 billion. Only P158.2 million of this will go to “Amateur Sports Development Program.”
We need to pour more funds into grassroots sports if we want to be taken seriously.
Sports programs are crucial for national development as these promote health, education, social inclusion, and gender empowerment especially for women.
Being seen in international competitions such as the Olympics also raises the country’s profile and catches international attention.
The late South African leader Nelson Mandela has said: “Sports have the power to change the world, it has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else can, it speaks to youth in a language they understand, sports can create hope where once there was only despair.”
Since its inception in 1948 as the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games, the Palaro has produced local sports heroes who competed at the international level.
Palaro’s most illustrious product is swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, who gave the country its first-ever Olympic bronze medal in men’s swimming during the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games in the Netherlands.
Yldefonso duplicated this by winning again the bronze in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games in the US.
Another Palarong Pambansa standout is shooter Eric Ang who donned the country’s flag in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China, where he finished 35th.
The Palarong Pambansa became the incubation center for record-breaking athletes like runners Nancy Navalta in 1997 and Ronald Calauanan in 1998.
Records were also broken during the 2024 Palaro, including that of grade schooler Jyane Cantor who set a new record in long jump, but such were not enough to wash down the embarrassment that happened that year.
Due to organizers’ bungling, 11 records in athletics events were invalidated after it was discovered that the Cebu track oval facility used for the games fell short of the 400-meter standard distance by World Athletics.
State sports officials have promised to do better this year and have solicited the inputs of the PSC and various national sports association.
Most of Palaro’s games will be staged at the newly renovated Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, which has passed vetting and regulation standards.
This year’s Palaro should be a welcome relief for election-weary Filipinos who would be glad to note that the game results are not subject to a recount or point-shaving.
