Palaro kicks off in P Princesa

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – The 2008 Palarong Pambansa finally unwraps today at the newly refurbished Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex with organizers confident all necessary measures have been in place to combat the annual meet’s perennial problems.

Curtain rises on the Palaro amidst a festival of colors, songs and dances this afternoon. Hostilities begin in earnest in various playing venues tomorrow.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus will speak before the participants and the crowd in behalf of President Arroyo while Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn will declare the meet open.

The Palaro is getting under way with assurance from the organizers and the hosts that they’re implementing measures that would prevent any untoward incident.

Department of Education officials said they would make sure the Palaro would be free of age-cheating while local government officials made a commitment to prevent cases of heat stroke.

“Nothing happened last year (in age-cheating) and we’re pretty confident of another smooth staging of the games this year,” said Len Toledo, head of the DepEd task force for school sports.

Death due to heat stroke marred the staging of the Palaro last year in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

In 2006, the Palaro in Naga City was rocked  with age-cheating controversy involving players in baseball and athletics.

Last year, a complaint was lodged by at least three regions against a Western Visayas tennis player, who was later  cleared by the organizers.

Toledo said they’re trying their best to be vigilant in fighting age cheating.

The hosts, meanwhile, are keeping a watchful eye on possible heat-stroke attack because of the heat the country is experiencing at the moment.

To spare everybody of tremendous heat, the opening ceremony is set at 4 p.m.

Despite the scorching summer, excitement is in the air with some 15,000 athletes, coaches and officials gathered here for the weeklong battle for sporting glory.

All delegations are already in for today’s inaugurals to be highlighted by an extravagant fireworks display.

The National Capital Region should get most of the attention, being the title holder in both the elementary and high school levels.

NCR is fielding about 500 athletes.

Hostilities in athletics, gymnastics, table tennis, chess, volleyball, baseball, softball, football and basketball start tomorrow.

Medal-rich swimming stakes 16 gold medals Tuesday, 12 on Wednesday and Thursday and 16 on Friday.