Marcos hails young Palaro athletes

MANILA, Philippines — “Let the Games begin.”

No less than President Marcos ushered in the Palarong Pambansa that was unfurled yesterday amid heavy monsoon rains at the wet Marikina Sports Center.

“I’m certain many of our participants here one day we’ll be watching in international competitions as we become a force,” said the Chief Executive who was accompanied by Vice President and Education Sec. Sara Duterte and Marikina City Mayor Marcy Toedoro.

“And this kind of event, diyan po nagbubunga ang ating nagiging champion, diyan po nanggagaling ang sikat na Pilipino, ‘yan po ang aming inaasahan senyo.”

“But as far as I’m concerned, you’re already winners,” the President added.

Despite the rainy weather, action kicked off at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City where Giethyl Daze Lubguban of Zamboanga Peninsula and Sean Harry Narag of the National Capital Region emerged the first gold medalists in the annual multi-sports for elementary and high school students.

A daughter of an OFW, the 12-year-old Lubguban topped the elementary girls’ high jump with a jump of 1.40 meters ahead of Briena Nichole Camacho of Central Luzon with a 1.37m and Shanelle Jane Filomeno of Western Visayas with a 1.34m.

“Ginawa ko lang po best ko. Hindi ko po inexpect na manalo,” said a teary-eyed Lubguban, who hails from Upper Panikian, Zamboanga del Sur.

And then the 17-year-old Narag, a Malaybalay, Bukidnon native who was recruited by University of Santo Tomas, followed suit with a golden clearance of 3.90m in the secondary boys’ pole vault performance that he hopes to be a stepping stone in following the footstep of his idol, world No. 2 EJ Obiena.

“Pangarap ko po maging tulad ni Kuya EJ,” said Narag.