35 golds at stake in Luzon B Pinoy

MANILA, Philippines -The Luzon leg of the Batang Pinoy gets going today with 20 golds in swimming and 15 in athletics up for grabs at the Zambales Sports Complex in Iba, Zambales.

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Philippine Sports commissioner Jolly Gomez, Mayor Rodney Ebdane, Philta sec-gen Romeo Magat and other local officials graced the opening rites along with the delegates and athletes from Luzon, National Capital Region and Marikina.

Close to 4,000 athletes aged 15 years old and above are competing in 28 sports spread over nine venues with Zambales Sports Complex serving as the main hub of the weeklong competition.

Titles to be disputed in athletics are 100m hurdles (girls), 110-m hurdles (boys), 3000m (girls), 1500m (boys and girls), 3000m (boys), long jump (boys and girls), high jump (boys and girls) and javelin (boys and girls). A total of 42 golds are at stake in the event.

Twenty finals in swimming are also on tap, according to tournament director Richard Luna, while other sports will be played simultaneously in other venues.

“We in the province worked really hard and consolidated our resources to ensure the successful staging of this event. Our people are there to assist and entertain all the delegations,” said Edbane, a former athlete during his days at Philippine Military Academy.

Gomez expressed his gratitude to the host province for its support of the Luzon leg after SEA Games Task Force member Romeo Magat talked on solidarity meeting attended by officials and athletes from different delegations.

“The Luzon leg could have not made possible without the support of Gov. Ebdane and Mayor Ebdane. First and foremost, I thank them for taking out from their hectic schedules just to make the event meaningful and memorable,” said Gomez.

Zambales is fielding in more than 300 boys and girls athletes in various sports, including boxing, athletics, swimming, chess and arnis.

Other sports will be played at Ramon Magsaysay Technological University, People’s Park, Botolan Community High School, Palanginan Covered Court, Bancal, Zambales National High School, Amungan Sta Barbara Covered court and Dawal Beach site of sailing.

The top finishers will join the other winners in the Visayas and Mindanao legs in the national finals set Nov. 11-23 in Bacolod.