A 12-YEAR-OLD girl from Zamboanga del Sur won the first gold medal of this year’s Palarong Pambansa at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City on Monday.
Giethyl Daze Lubguban, an incoming Grade 7 student at the Upper Panikian Integrated School, ruled the elementary girls high jump with a 1.40-meter leap.
Curtain raiser Region 9’s Giethyl Daze Lubguban clears the bar during the elementary girls high jump event to win the first gold medal in the Palarong Pambansa at the Philsports Track Oval in Pasig City on Monday, July 31, 2023. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO
Curtain raiser Region 9’s Giethyl Daze Lubguban clears the bar during the elementary girls high jump event to win the first gold medal in the Palarong Pambansa at the Philsports Track Oval in Pasig City on Monday, July 31, 2023. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO
High jump and other athletics events were among the sports held outside Marikina City, the host of this year’s Palaro.
With Lubguban’s winning jump, Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) earned the first gold medal in the return of Palaro, which has not been held in the last four years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I dedicate my gold medal to my father who works as a welder abroad,” said Lubguban, whose father works in Taiwan.
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“I hope my family and my father are proud. I really want to win a gold for him,” added Lubguban, whose father watched her performance live on the Facebook account of her mother.
It was an emotional victory for the first-time Palaro athlete, who said that she was feeling under the weather last week.
The 5-foot-5 high jumper said she was still shivering a bit because it was drizzling Monday.
Brieyanna Nicole Camacho of Tarlac Province in Central Luzon took the silver by clearing 1.37 meters.
Shanelle Jane Felomino of Region 6 (Western Visayas), Shanelle Dulay of Region 3 (Central Luzon), and Zaharrah Venice Panit of Region 11 (Davao) all cleared 1.31 m to win a bronze each.
Pole vaulter Sean Harry Narag of UST High School (National Capital Region) won the second gold of this year’s Palaro with a 3.90-m jump.
Mejen Sumbungan, also from UST High School, cleared 3.80 m for the silver.
Eumar Mamogay of Bayawan City in Negros Oriental (Region 8) cleared 3.30 m for the bronze.
The Palaro gathers together the best elementary and secondary students from the country’s different regions.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attended the opening ceremony.
“As you take part in your respective sport, remember you are already champions,” said Marcos in his address to the Palaro participants.
“You represent your respective schools and localities. Compete with excellence, fairness, and integrity. It is also my hope that you enjoy every moment in this competition and make memories that you will keep close to your heart for the rest of your life,” he said.
The President called on the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units to continue harnessing the talents of student-athletes.
“Encourage school participation in sports competitions; let us motivate our students to engage in physical activities so they will learn the significance of discipline, resilience in the realization of their goals,” he said.
“With consistent and diligent efforts, I am confident that they will eventually bring glory to our nation, not only in the field of sports but also in other endeavors that they will choose to pursue,” the President said.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte was also present at the opening, as were Metro Manila mayors led by Marikina’s Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro.
The different delegations, dressed in the traditional costumes of their region, performed ethnic dances as they made their way to the Marikina track oval.
Volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez, a product of the Palarong Pambansa, led the athletes’ oath.
Sports stars Mark Barroca and Bea de Leon lit the torch to officially begin the games.
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