CAN this “small” city hack it?
Marikina will host the 63rd edition of the Palarong Pambansa from July 29 to Aug. 5, with the annual event making its comeback after a four-year hiatus due to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Education, which organizes the Palaro, and the city said it’s all systems go for the much-awaited return of the Games.
“It’s all systems go for the Palarong Pambansa 2023,” Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro said last Friday during the inspection of game venues and Memorandum of Agreement signing that was graced by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
“The Department of Education entrusted us with such huge tasks and the city government of Marikina accepted to take on this enormous challenge and responsibility of hosting this prestigious national sporting event. Despite the limited capacity of the city, we still have the ability to host the Palaro,” he said.
A highly reliable Malaya-Business Insight insider said while the venues for the 34 sporting events, including disciplines for the differently abled, are ready, logistics concerns gnaw at the organizers, especially billeting areas for the athletes.
Widely-known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Marikina is hosting the Palarong Pambansa for the first time. After hosting the 1980 Palarong Bagong Lipunan, its only other hosting chore was in 2014 when it hosted the Asean School Games.
“Marikina is a small city compared to others here in the NCR. It could have been better if it was a joint hosting like Marikina and Pasig or Marikina and Quezon City,” the insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“Mattresses, blankets, pillows, and pillowcases in the billeting schools are not yet complete three days before the delegations are expected to arrive on Wednesday.”
A document obtained by Malaya-Business Insight yesterday showed only seven of the 30 billeting quarters have complete beddings–San Roque Elementary School and San Roque National High School (billeting quarters of Region I), SSS Village Elementary School and SSS Village National High School (Region II), Barangka Elementary School, Barangka National High School, and Tañong High School (Cordillera Administrative Region).
The opening ceremony will be on July 31 at the Marikina Sports Complex, with President Marcos Jr. expected to declare the games officially open.
“The Palarong Pambansa is a springboard for young Filipinos to become strong leaders and better communicators,” Duterte said.
“They learn to make decisions, inspire their teammates and communicate with teammates, coaches and referees as they participate in team activities.”
Under the theme “Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag,” the country’s premier joust for elementary and high school students has drawn 9,172 athletes, coaches, and officials from 17 regions.
Larong lahi will be an exhibition this year with sports such as kadang-kadang, tumbang preso, and patintero.
