Future of Phl sports known as Palaro 2013 unfolds

DUMAGUETE CITY – The 2013 Palarong Pambansa goes full blast Monday as the country's best and brightest student athletes gather and compete for a week seeking not just pride and glory but the incentives that go with it at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium here.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, said athletes who will break records and win multiple medals will be rewarded with either cash or scholarship grants courtesy of the generous private sector that pitched in to make this possible.

"This is another facet of public- private partnership wherein we don’t just build classrooms for them. We also help build their character thru sports development," said Luistro.

Among the early donors from the private sector that already given and pledged their support were Nestle, Milo, Smart, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Philippine Airlines, Aboitiz Foundation, Ang-Hortaleza Foundation, Johnson & Johnson Philippines, San Miguel Foundation and Ayala Foundation.

At present, DepEd has already received pledges in cash and in kind from the private sector amounting to over P2 million to be given as incentive to top performing athletes. There are also offers of scholarship for athletes who will stand out in selected games during the Palaro.

Luistro explained that giving incentives to our athletes will encourage them to push extra hard to achieve their goals. "Reward comes to those who work for it."

The National Capital Region has been dominating the annual multi-sports meet for elementary and high school students, and just year, the Big City bets finished No. 1 overall with 150 golds, 74 silvers and  69 bronzes.

Western Visayas, which again swept the runner-up honors in the secondary and elementary divisions in 2012, will try to improve on its medal haul and in a bid to keep second spot, and perhaps unseat the traditional powerhouse.

It is said that rains have kept some venues muddied as athletes were forced to skip warmups at the oval, and the muddy field as well,  but deputy tournament director Romeo Sotto said the competitions will still go on today, no matter  what condition the venue is in.

“The Palaro will push through as scheduled. The whole oval was submerged in water since Saturday. The drainage could not keep up with the rain that's why small rains always makes it muddy,” said Sotto.

Golds will be at stake in  the secondary girls javelin throw and triple jump,  the secondary boys shotput and long jump. In the elementary side, at stake are medals in the boys triple jump and girls shot put.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia, who is the guest speaker, joined Luistro in declaring the Games open with Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo .

More golds will be at stakes when the afternoon finals of the swimming championships take place at the Sen. Lorenzo G. Teves Aqua Center on Tuesday.

All delegations from 17 regions have arrived and are now settled in their respective billeting quarters.

Among the other playing venues are the Ang Tay Golf Range (archery),  Holy Cross  gym (arnis), The Court – LP Hypert Mart (badminton), Silliman Heights ballpark(badminton), Dr. Orbeta Ball Park(baseball), Lamberto Macias Sports Center and Silliman University Gym, ABC Learning Center gym, Valencia gym (basketball) and  Atrium, Robinsons Place Dumaguete (boxing).

Chess will be at the Silliman Hall, football at the  Silliman University Cimafranca Ball Field, Gov. Mariano Percides Memorial Stadium; Foundation University Ball Field, Silliman University Ravello  Field.