Marikina City all set to host 2023 Palarong Pambansa

Marikina City, the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, is all set for the hosting of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa as the national games for student athletes return after a four-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said the city is ready to welcome 9,172 athletes, coaches, and officials from the 17 regions which will compete in 34 sports disciplines, including the games for the differently abled.

The annual sports competition for elementary and secondary students is set from July 29 to August 5 under the theme “Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag.”

Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Sara Duterte (4th from left) led the inspection of playing venues at the Marikina Sports Center on Friday, July 21. She is joined by (from left) Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and Marikina Sports Center administrator Angelito Llabres. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO 

The grand opening ceremony, however, will be held on July 31 at the Marikina Sports Complex with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expected to declare the games officially open.

“It’s all systems go for the Palarong Pambansa 2023,” said Mayor Teodoro said during the launching and signing of the memorandum of agreement on Friday, July 21, at the Marikina Sports Complex.

“The Department of Education entrusted us with such huge tasks and the City Government of Marikina accepted to take on this enormous challenge and responsibility of hosting this prestigious national sporting event. Despite the limited capacity of the city, we still have the ability to host the Palaro.”

Health, meanwhile, is still the top priority of the host city and the Mayor said safeguards have been put in place to protect the delegates from the threats of Covid-19.

“We have an existing temporary treatment and monitoring facility located in Bagong Sibol, Nangka. It can accommodate 100 patients with confirmed asymptomatic to mild cases of Covid-19,” said Teodoro.

“This facility seeks to immediately isolate delegates who will test positive in order for them to quickly get the much-needed medical attention and treatment.”

New games

In an effort to promote, preserve, and propagate the country’s rich cultural heritage as well as help revive the traditional Filipino games, indigenous games also known as ‘larong lahi’ will take place this year.

Among the larong lahi featured as exhibition events this year are kadang-kadang, tumbang preso, and patintero.

The para games, weightlifting, and obstacle course racing are also listed as exhibition sports while dance sports, pencak silat, and e-sports are set to take center stage as demonstration sports.

Football, meanwhile, features night games at the Marikina Sports Center.

VP leads inspection

Meanwhile, Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Sara Duterte led the inspection of playing venues at the Marikina Sports Center prior to the press launch.

She was joined in the technical inspection by Mayor Teodoro, Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and Marikina Sports Center administrator Angelito Llabres.

Duterte and Teodoro also signed the memorandum of agreement between DepEd and the Marikina government for the hosting of Palaro 2023.