PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — Who else can be apart of the popular bet from the Big City?
The National Capital Region (NCR) carries a huge target on its back and when it breaks down to the south in an attempt to get its 19.th the article is complete at 66th Palarong Pambansa on Monday at Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov. DO Plaza Sports Complex.
Metro Manila last year won the national intercollegiate sports meet in Laoag, Ilocos Sur with a harvest of 237 medals, more than double the gold medal haul of its neighbors from Calabarzon (Region IV-A) and Western Visayas (Region VI).
Metro Stars bagged a total of 117 gold, 70 silver and 50 bronze medals in the second and lower divisions to win as Calabarzon (47-68-66) and Western Visayas (44-54-58) rounded out the field.
The bulk of NCR’s collection came from swimming, led by the Games’ highly-regarded Titus Raphael Sia and Sophia Rose Garra with seven golds each, and athletics, where the coveted first gold medal of the Games is at stake for the proper competition in the week-long multi-sport summer meeting that follows Sunday’s grand opening event at the same venue.
Several events are lined up at sunrise, including the field javelin and shot put but the first gold winner is expected to emerge from the second girls’ 3,000m track final or long jump in both categories.
More than 1,500 medals, including eight golds in the opening day’s fireworks salvo, will be up for grabs in more than 30 sports in both the high school and elementary school divisions as Agusan del Sur serves as Palaro host for the first time.
Among the highly anticipated events is weightlifting, which will be seen as a regular medal match last year, along with middle girls’ football and junior girls’ futsal.
Karate, kickboxing and soft tennis will also be featured as demo sports while muay thai and other selected Para Games events (sitting volleyball and table tennis) will serve as exhibition events.
There are more than 10,000 student-athletes in the race – the largest number to date after a 10.47% increase last year, from the 18 provinces of the islands as well as the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas.
More than 13,000 make up the entire team of “Palaro Tu Agsur” with the theme “Opening the Future through Sports” under the leadership of the Department of Education led by Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission led by Chairman Patrick C. Gregorio.
They will be given free transportation in 36 locations in Prosperidad, Bayugan City, Bunawan, Esperanza, Talacogon and San Francisco under the “Libreng Sakay” program through buses and tricycles by the provincial government led by Santiago B. Cane, Jr.
In cooperation with its neighbor Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur will also offer tours, free of charge and entrance fees, to Tugonan Falls, Bega Falls and Ecotourism Park, Putting Buhangin Cave, Agusan Provincial Museum, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and Toog wells Centennial in Enchagao River. – John Bryan Ulanday
