MANILA, 7 December — The third Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy, the breeding ground of would-be national athletes, got underway with flying colors in Bacolod City.
Some 20,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and city folks were present in the colorful opening ceremony marked by the lighting of the urn by six-year-old tanker Maria Kiesha Yvet Mercado of General Santos City, the youngest participant, and the beautifully-choreographed production number performed by students from University of St. La Salle.
This country-wide sportsfest plunged into full-scale action over the weekend in different venues in the progressive city south of the Philippines known as The City of Smiles.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged the participants to compete and excel in sports.
“Instead of just being competitive and sports-minded, everyone should use this meet as an instrument for national development especially now that the country is facing a lot of problems,” said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, who spoke on behalf of President Arroyo, who had cancelled all her out-of-town trips due to the Mindanao conflict.
At the same time, she exhorted them to serve as instruments for national development at a time when the country is reeling from a series of setbacks on various fronts.
Arroyo to revive Palarong Pambansa
The Palarong Pambansa may be back as the nation’s premier sporting event after being shelved for a year.
Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella said he had talked with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself to agree on the revival of the meet despite the budgetary constraints. “I was part of the RP delegation which went to Indonesia with the President two weeks back and I fortunately got to talk to her and she agreed to the revival of the Palaro,” said Puentevella.
The former Philippine Sports commissioner said he is currently working with Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin in getting the needed fund — estimated to be worth 40 million pesos - for the Palarong Pambansa, which was last held in Bacolod City in 2000.
Puentevella, who chairs the House Committee on Youth and Sports, stressed that the amount will only cover the actual staging of the national Palarong Pambansa and not its regional qualifying stages.
“The 40 million pesos the Budget Department is trying to secure is only for the national Palarong Pambansa,” said Puentevella. “We don’t know if that amount can cover the expenses for the regional eliminations but we hope the Department of Education shoulders it.” While optimistic of getting the needed funds, Puentevella said they have yet to determine the venue and the exact date of the Palarong Pambansa although he hinted that the games may be held in Luzon in either April or May next year.
Bacolod co-host of 2005 SEA Games
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Carlos Tuason urged Bacolod to make their intention official if the city wants to be part of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
Earlier, Bacolod has repeatedly signified its desire to be the games’ sub- or co-hosts, but only through the media.
“If they want to be considered, they must express their intention to us formally and in writing,” Tuason said, who graced the opening ceremonies of the 3rd Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the sprawling Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod.
“How can they be included in the list of possible co-hosts if they only air their intentions through the newspapers, radio or television?” The cities of Cebu and Iloilo should take the cue from Bacolod, which informed him through Mayor Joy Valdez, that they want to stage part of the games the country would be hosting for the third time since 1981 in their city.
Officials of Tubud, Lanao del Norte, which hosted the recent Mindanao Friendship Games, have asked both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and PSC for inclusion in the considerations as co-host.
Pampanga, through Provincial Board member Joseller Guiao, has already made known its intention to be at least co-host.
Guiao also bared plans of the Clark Development Authority to build ultra-modern facilities within a 25-hectare area inside the former United States Airbase should it be given the right to become main games site.
Airmen rule AFP weightlifting
The Philippine Air Force reigned supreme in the wieghtlifting event of the AFP-PNP Little Olympics at the PAF Gym inside the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
The Airforce collared three gold medals courtesy of Patrick Lee in the 105-kilogram category, Alvin Delos Santos (105+kgs.) and Arnel Colonia (62 kgs.) The Philippine Army actually tied the Air Force in gold medal tally.
Armymen Daniel Brigoli (77 kgs.) Roberto Colonia (94 kgs.) and Antonio Agustin (56 kgs.) topped their respective divisions as the Army also bagged three gold medals.
The Air Force won overall top honors on account of the four silver medals won by Roberto Borromeo in the 85-kilogram event, ReynerioHipolito (94 kgs), Jules Catingub (69 kgs.) and Fernando Caronan (77kgs.).
