Six gold medals are at stake today in athletics as competitions start in the 2008 Palarong Pambansa in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Hoping to capture the overall championship after placing first runner-up last year to the National Capital Region, Western Visayas athletes are eyeing the gold in today’s secondary boys and girls’ javelin throw, secondary boys’ long jump, elementary and secondary boys’ triple jump, and elementary girls’ shot put.

Last year, Maika De Oro reigned in elementary girls’ shot put with her golden heave of 9.58-meter while Bago City’s Jossie Entrina took the silver in secondary girl’s javelin throw behind Aiza Rosero of Region V.

De Oro, a freshman in St. Benilde School in Bacolod City, will compete in the secondary girls’ shot put tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s opening ceremony, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that this year’s national games hope to bring out the best among young Filipino athletes and mold them to become world-class athletes.

He also commended the DepEd personnel for including in this year’s Palaro several events for the differently-abled players who are targets of development initiatives of the Education department.

Lapus also reminded the athletes and officials to upgrade the level of competition by setting in place measures that will ensure fair play and sportsmanship.

“Our athletes and coaches should act and play based on the rules,” Lapus emphasized.

He said that breaking records and setting new ones should not get in the way of true sportsmanship since at the end of the day, those who play fair and square emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission said in a statement it issued that the Palaro is the breeding ground for future Olympians as the thrust of the national government, through national sports program, is to discover and help train athletes who will finally break barriers and give the country the much elusive Olympic gold medal.*NAB

back to top

Three-way tie in Balbina Cup 2001
Softball exec hits DECS Bacolod
Tanpinco to defend title in amateur golf tourney