Palarong Pambansa off the wraps in Naga

NAGA CITY— The Palarong Pambansa returns to this premier city of the Bicol Region after four years with a promise of a bigger, better staging of the annual multi-sports meet among elementary and high school students at the Pacol Sports Center here.

Some 6,000 athletes, officials and delegation members are expected to gather in elaborate ceremonial rites kicking off the weeklong event long considered as the country’s breeding ground of talents.

"We need to identify the potential athletes early on and exercise partnership towards developing these athletes," said Department of Education Acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo in yesterday’s media briefing.

Vice President Noli de Castro, representing President Arroyo, will declare the Palaro open.

De Castro will be joined by Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Joker Arroyo and Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya — all Bicol natives — in ushering in the Games.

Philippine Sports Commission chair William "Butch" Ramirez is also expected to attend the opening rites along with commissioner Leon Montemayor.

"We’re all set and ready to go," said host Mayor Jesse Robredo, who was also the city mayor when Naga last hosted the meet in 2002.

"This is not simply a logistical exercise but a real competition to those young student athletes, nor a one-shot deal. We want a continuity of the program," added Robredo, whose daughter Patricia is participating in relay events for elementary students.

New meet marks are also expected to be set.

"The Palaro had 23 record breakers in Iloilo last year. This year, we expect to see more records broken," said Len Toledo, DepEd’s Palaro task force chief.

Athletes are competing in 13 events with the bulk of the gold medals staked in the centerpiece athletics and swimming events.

Other sports in the Palaro calendar are archery, athletics, chess, badminton, lawn tennis, gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball, taekwondo, girls’ softball, boys’ basketball, baseball and boxing.

Some events will also be played for differently-abled athletes as part of the DepEd’s thrust to help students with disabilities to also compete.