Aklan athletes to compete in Dumaguete Palarong Pambansa

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Athletes from Aklan will compete in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental from April 21 to 27.

Considered the country’s biggest sporting event, 16 high school and seven elementary athletes in regular events are expected to lead the Western Visayas delegation where they will start their bid for glory in the 56^th staging of the Palaro.

With this year’s theme "Sports: Road to Peace and Progress," the annual meet is hosted by the provincial government of Negros Oriental and Department of Education Region VII together with the Schools Division of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City. 

Close to 400 athletes from the six provinces will comprise the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) in the 2013 edition of the region’s athletic meet. They will participate in 16 events in elementary and 17 events in secondary. Special events such as athletics, swimming, bocce and goal ball will be participated in by the differently abled children. 

Kent I. Dormido of Batan Elementary School and Jil Iron A. Tabuena of Numancia Integrated School will see action in athletics elementary. Mark Chester T. Gaspar   of Naisud Central School is the lone bet of Aklan in elementary boys boxing. 

Nathalie A. Ramos of Kalibo Pilot Elementary School will be competing in chess, Lorenzo Angelo Q. Legaspi of Aklan Learning Center will play in tennis event, Dino C. Lago of Kalibo Elementary School will flex muscles in taekwondo and CJ Kyle Montano of Central Panay Elementary School in volleyball boys.

Aklan’s secondary athletes will challenge the best student-athletes in the annual meet. They are Joseph Matthew Z. Sucro   of Saint Gabriel College (arnis), Jay S. Sorrosa of Maloco National High School  Ibajay (athletics), Allysa Marie C. Andrade and Angelic M. de Josef of Monfort Technical Institute-New Washington (athletics)  and  Jerremay I. Rubias of Tangalan National High School (athletics.)

Other high school athletes are Nel Carlo G. Ignacio of Aklan Polytechnic College (badminton), Matthew T. Tamayo of Infant Jesus Academy (badminton), John Nino P. Melgar and Gerol  J. Vega of Aklan Polytechnic College (basketball boys), Judy Ann T. Jimenez of Catalino M. Prado National High School-Lezo (basketball girls), Kent Allan R. Relloto (chess boys) and Mira T. Mirano (chess girls) of Saint Gabriel College High School and Jhomar L. Mananis of Aklan National High School of Arts and Trades (tennis boys).

Three athletes - Joeven P. dela Vega of Camanci National High School, Jhun A. Kahulugan of Toledo National High School-Nabas and Jose Rex H. Sarabia of Northwestern Visayan Colleges are joining the Region VI team in volleyball boys event.

The Governor Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium in Dumaguete City is the main venue of competitions for the 10,000-strong athletes, officials and coaches from 17 regions. 

Western Visayas placed first runner-up behind National Capital Region in Lingayen, Pangasinan last year.