Palaro fires off in Vigan

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — The 61st Palarong Pambansa formally kicks off this afternoon with the Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur promising an exciting and memorable opening ceremony at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay here.

No less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is expected to grace the event together with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who will make a pitch for Davao's plan to host the 2019 edition of the annual athletic meet for elementary and secondary student-athletes.

Aside from Davao, three other areas in Mindanao are taking part in the bidding - Misamis Occidental, General Santos City and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Philippine sports legends headed by Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Eugene Torre, Efren “Bata” Reyes and Paeng Nepomuceno will join President Rodrigo Duterte in gracing the affair.

De Vega-Mercado, the country’s former sprint queen, will be presented a Palarong Pambansa lifetime achievement award in the opening ceremony starting at 12:30 p.m. and he will be joined by fellow athletic superstars Torre, Reyes and Nepomuceno as well as Elma Muros-Posadas, Hidilyn Diaz, Eric Buhain and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco.

Senator Manny Pacquiao was also invited and could also arrive anytime today.

Duterte had already confirmed his presence as guest speaker as early as Friday, marking the second straight time that the Chief Executive graced the annual multi-sports events for elementary and high school students after he also attended last year’s edition in San Jose, Antique.

“This gathering occurs at an opportune time when we are accelerating our momentum towards a harmonious and empowered society,” said Duterte in a message sent in advance to the Palaro organizers.

“I encourage everyone to develop our youth’s great potential by showcasing their skill and dynamic energy in their chosen sport.

“May you find inspiration among your fellow players and cultivate regional pride that is necessary to nation-building. As you play with vigor and fairness, continue harnessing the strengths of each other as we proceed on the path towards real and lasting change,” he added.

Host Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson and Vice Gov. Jeremias Singson, Bantay Mayor Samuel Parilla II and Department of Edcuation Secretary Leonor Briones will also be present in the inaugurals that will be highlighted by the parade of colors of the 17 participating regions including powerhouse National Capital Region, which has dominated the meet for decades now.

Ilocos Sur has also prepared a sky diving and hot air balloon show, a field demo and street dancing showdown, the Palaro mascot and the singing of the Palaro hymn, as well as the singing of the National Anthem by Bituin Escalante.

The PGIS Chorale, Teachers’ Chorale and High School Students Chorale will also perform the region’s hymn.

Also, the province will also enforce a total gun ban and only uniformed police and military men will be allowed to carry to ensure peace and order and the safety of the 20,000-strong delegation composed of athletes, coaches, officials and parents that will troop this province.

A total of 1,311 medals including 397 golds will be staked in the regular events like centerpiece track and field and medal-rich swimming, the events to be competed in are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling and wushu.

Aero gymnastics, dancesports and pencak silat are calendared as demonstration events.

The differently-abled athletes, on the other hand, will also show their wares in their side of the competition.

Athletics will stake the most medals with 198 followed by swimming with 180, arnis with 158 and taekwondo with 152. Philippine STAR News Service