BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
With just two days left before the conclusion of the 65th Palarong Pambansa, young athletes from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have already made their mark by winning a total of 10 medals in various sports events.
Since the games began on May 24, athletes from across the country have been showcasing their skills and determination.
As of the latest medal tally, the National Capital Region is leading with 51 medals, followed by Region IV-A (CALABARZON) with 48, Region X (Northern Mindanao) with 35, Region VI (Western Visayas) with 31, and Region XIII (Caraga) with 20.
The Cordillera region has claimed four gold medals, five silver, and one bronze, making their presence felt in athletics and combat sports such as taekwondo, boxing, wushu, and archery.
According to Estela Cariño, Regional Director of DepEd-CAR, “Our goal really was to improve from last year’s performance. We were ranked 13th before. We’re aiming higher, but at the same time, we don’t want to pressure our athletes too much.”
More than 300 student-athletes were sent by the region to this year’s national meet. Cariño emphasized that Cordillera joined all events, adding, “We didn’t miss any of the events because we have contenders in all of them.”
She also shared her hopes for more wins in the coming days. “Our wrestling and boxing teams have already advanced. Even in wushu, we’re hoping to get more golds in this event.”
The 2025 Palarong Pambansa is set to wrap up on Saturday, May 31.
