AFTER 61 years, Palarong Pambansa will find its way to the City of Stars next year.
Quezon City (QC), known as the heart of the Philippine entertainment and media industry like Hollywood in Los Angeles, will once again be the mecca of national sports when it hosts the 67.th edition of the Games next year.
QC last hosted the Palaro in 1966 when the Amoranto Stadium and Sports Complex was opened. It will serve as the main site of the annual multi-sport summer meeting following the successful program in Agusan del Sur as the first host.
“The 2027 Palarong Pambansa is a milestone for our city. Since then, our city has been home to some of the most defining moments in Philippine sports history,” said QC Mayor Joy Belmonte, who personally accepted the host torch and banner from Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. of Agusan del Sur, during 66th Palaro closing ceremony this weekend at Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov.DO Plaza Sports Complex.
“Quezon City knows what it means to host big things. And this is the experience we want every Palaro athlete to have in 2027. The experience of a champion, the same feeling that many world-class athletes know because of us.”
The Amoranto Sports Complex has been in the works for years and its full opening is expected to end this year with a 15,000 capacity stadium in front of a world-class 8-lane stadium and football pitch.
It also has 10-lane Olympic-sized swimming pools, a basketball and volleyball gym, badminton and table tennis courts, tennis and pickleball courts, a gym and boxing, billiards hall and more.
Also seen as additional venues for next year’s Palaro are the University of the Philippines in Diliman and the Business District, including the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, where all roads lead to and from all important cities across the Philippines.
QC is called the most accessible city in the city with bus terminals to and from all cities in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao by sea, land or air. It has a 24/7 route to Manila, Batangas or the port of Sorsogon, to NAIA in Pasay City, or Clark International Airport in Pampanga and serves as a junction for the National Capital Region’s (NCR) three train lines LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3.
And that’s what makes QC the perfect host and ready to gather an expected team of up to 20,000 or more.
“We thrive on the fact that all roads lead to, and pass through us. We are proud to be connected to every corner of this great island. And we carry this relationship with us as we open our Palarong Pambansa home for next year,” Ms. Belmonte added.
But QC will have a tall order to eclipse after Agusan del Sur passed with flying colors as the first host.
“Bad behavior Agusan del Sur at hindi nila ito sinayang, mula sa goosebumps with Opening Salvohanggang sa meggat matatari at alaga sa aggag samaga 16,000 delagado rito,” said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara.
In addition to world-class facilities in all 36 venues throughout the province including a world-class media center with up to 20 large television screens showing all the games, Agusan del Sur boasts hospitality, air-conditioned charging stations, “Libreng Sakay,” free tourist tours and meals.
“This year has shown that sports competitions can be organized at a high level while keeping the athletes at the center of each decision. Agusan del Sur has raised the bar for future hosts,” added Mr. Angara.
QC acting as host for Palaro will roll out the red carpet for 20th bid for the outright title of the beloved NCR after making it king in the 18-region region, including the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas, and in Agusan del Sur.
NCR, led by seven-gold Palaro champion in tanker Patricia Mae Santor of the University of Santo Tomas, bagged 91 gold, 70 silver and 71 bronze medals in both the elementary and secondary school categories.
Calabarzon ended up finishing second with 55-50-60 while Davao Region (34-32-35) stole the thunder from third-place finisher Western Visayas to round out the field.
Western Visayas (31-36-45) settled in fifth place while Central Visayas is fourth at 32-30-44. Hosts Caraga impressed with a sixth-placed finish after claiming gold in the football and pet wrestling events for a stunning performance. – John Bryan Ulanday
