By MARK REY MONTEJO
LAOAG CITY – The sweltering heat is no match to the fighting spirit of the country’s future athletic stars when the 2025 Palarong Pambansa fires off here at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium (FEMMS) Saturday evening, May 24.
With 15,675 participants from 18 regions and two special delegations from the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas traveling to the north for the weeklong competition, all eyes would be on reigning overall champion National Capital Region (NCR) which is gunning for its 18th consecutive crown.
It marked the second hosting of Laoag since its first one nearly six decades ago.
According to the tournament’s officer in charge, Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma, no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will grace the opening ceremony alongside top officials and the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.
Marcos will declare the start of the annual meet, while Diaz-Naranjo, who is in her first year as technical director of Palaro’s weightlifting contest, leads the oath of coaches and technical officials.
A parade will take place at 5 p.m. on the streets of the “Sunshine City” of the North where all delegations are expected to join in the spectacle that will also highlight the culture and people of Ilocos Norte including its sporting hero and PH swimming legend Teofilo Yldefonso.
“Since we have already established the date of Palaro, we have already started to check each venue… we solicited the help of PSC and various NSAs,” said Garma.
“In collaboration with LGU of Ilocos Norte, with the support of the host, we hope this will be the best Palaro ever, especially since the president came from here, imagine the support this tournament will get” he added.
This year’s 65th edition of the premier grassroots tournament features 27 sports while inserting weightlifting as a demo sport.
The competition proper will commence on Monday, May 26 , and will conclude Friday, May 30. Closing ceremony is on Saturday, May 31, then departure of the part takers are on the following days.
Larong Pinoy (native games) and exhibition sports are set Sunday, May 25.
“Yong culture ng Ilocano is ayaw naming mawala, kapag may mga events dito sa Ilocos we make sure naka-align do’n,” said Sports Development officer Helen Rose Domingo.
The official stressed that they put effort in providing enough water and electric supply for the games, as well as health and security staff in every venue.
