2016 Palarong Pambansa
The 2016 Palarong Pambansa was the 59th edition of the annual multi-sporting event for Filipino student-athletes. Athletic associations from the country's 18 regions were competed in different sporting events and discipline. The games were held at the Bicol University Sports Complex, in Albay Province,[2] from April 10–16, 2016.[3]
 | |
| Host city | Legazpi, Albay (main) |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Motto | Transforming Communities, Transcending through K to 12 |
| Teams participating | 18 regional athletic associations |
| Athletes participating | 14,000+ athletes[1] |
| Opening ceremony | 10 April |
| Closing ceremony | 16 April |
| Officially opened by | Secretary of Education Armin Luistro |
| Torch lighter | Terrence Romeo Francis Everisto |
| Main venue | Bicol University Sports Complex |
| Broadcast partners | ABS-CBN Sports and Action Channel 23 and ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD |
| Website | albaypalaro2016.com |
Negros Island Region which was created in 2015, participated for the first time in the Palarong Pambansa as a region.[4]
Bidding
As of May 6, 2015, Only Albay has formally submitted a bid to host the games. The hosts of the games were originally set to be announced in June 2015 but the Department of Education announced that the Palarong Pambansa board will convene in August 2016 regarding the hosts of the 2016 edition.[5][6]
In October 2015, the DepED, together with the Philippine Sports Commission formally awarded the hosting rights of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa to Albay province. Albay won the bidding, against Cagayan province.[2] On January 25, 2016, the Albay government and the Department of Education signed a memorandum of agreement for the formal staging of the games.[3]
Other bids
Aside from Albay and Cagayan, other provinces also expressed or considered to bid for the hosting rights of the games.
- Benguet
After losing their bid to host the 2014 Palarong Pambansa, Baguio and Benguet made a joint bid for the 2016 edition of the games. The Baguio Athletic Bowl and the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal, La Trinidad were touted as one of the venues of the games.[6][7]
Plan for the games
Albay's bid includes plans to make a new sports facility, the Albay Sports Complex to be constructed in Guinobatan as the main venue of the games.[8] Two newly constructed swimming pools and a tennis court will be used, while several indoor sporting events will be held in St. Agnes Academy, Aquinas University and Divine Word College in Legazpi.[3]
The games will also be promoted as a sports tourism event, the first time in the history of the sporting tournament. Aside from the Palarong Pambansa, Albay will also host the Albay Xterra Off-Road Triathlon and Le Tour de Filipinas on February and the Mayon 360° Ultra Marathon on April.[9] Sports venues will be spread out throughout the province of Albay to promote local tourism.[10]
Governor Joey Salceda, said that the province will be spending 450 million pesos budget for the construction of the playing venues before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Palaro.[11]
Milo has also committed for the sponsorship in the 2016 Palarong Pambansa.[12]
Media and television coverage
The live television coverage of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa were broadcast on ABS-CBN Sports and Action. ABS-CBN forged an historical partnership agreement with the Local Government of Albay and the DepEd for the live coverage of the Palarong Pambansa on April 5, 2016 at the ELJ Communications Center in the network's compound in Quezon City.[13]
As part of the signed agreement, the network committed to air the games and events of the 9-day athletic meet (except during the gamedays of the UAAP, on which will be aired on a primetime slot), particularly in Basketball and Volleyball, on both ABS-CBN Sports and Action Channel 23 and ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD Channel 166 (on SkyCable), including the Opening Ceremonies on April 10.[14] They will also produce a documentary, featurettes and interviews with the past athletes who started their athletic career in the Palarong Pambansa as part of the network's continuous mission on sports development.[13]
PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc.'s Legazpi-based AM radio station DZGB 729 kHz has also provided the live and blow-by-blow coverage of the proceedings of the Palarong Pambansa 2016. Myx is also aired coverage of the Palarong Pambansa 2016 via Channel 66 Naga and Channel 56 Legazpi.
Sports
In this year's Palaro, there will be 1,095 medals to be given away to the winners and the runners-up in the following sporting disciplines to be contested in the competition. These are 151 golds, 151 silvers and 183 golds in the elementary division, while 187 golds, 187 silvers and 236 golds in the secondary division.[15]
Regular Games
Demonstration Games
These are the demonstration sports for this year's Palarong Pambansa. Deped Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, as stated in an interview that the organizing committee will evaluate all 5 demo sports whether they will elevated their status into a regular sport or it will scrapped instead.[16]
- Billiards
- Futsal
- Sepak takraw (Girls)
- Wrestling
- Wushu
Participating regions
With the inclusion of the Negros Island Region, a total of 18 regions will be participating in the 7-day athletic meet.
Host Region
| Regions | No. of Participants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Regional Athletic Association Name | Region | Athletes | Officials | Total |
 | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | |||
 | Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association | Cordillera Administrative Region | |||
 | National Capital Region Athletic Association | National Capital Region | |||
 | Region I Athletic Association | Region I or Ilocos Region | |||
 | Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association | Region II or Cagayan Valley | |||
 | Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association | Region III or Central Luzon | |||
 | Southern Tagalog - Calabarzon Athletic Association | Region IV-A or Southern Tagalog – Calabarzon | |||
 | Mimaropa Regional Athletic Association | Region IV-B or Southern Tagalog – Mimaropa | |||
 | Bicol Regional Athletic Association | Region V or Bicol Region | |||
 | Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association | Region VI or Western Visayas | |||
 | Negros Island Regional Athletic Association | Region XVIII or Negros Island Region | |||
 | Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association | Region VII Central Visayas | |||
 | Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association | Region VIII or Eastern Visayas | |||
 | Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association | Region IX or Zamboanga Peninsula | |||
 | Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association | Region X or Northern Mindanao | |||
 | Davao Regional Athletic Association | Region XI or Davao Region | |||
 | Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association | Region XII or SOCCSKSARGEN | |||
 | CARAGA Regional Athletic Association | Region XIII or CARAGA | |||
Playing Venues
27 sporting venues for 21 sports disciplines will be used for the entire duration of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Albay. Those venues are located in Legazpi, the province's capital and four municipalities, Camalig, Daraga Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.[17] Aside from the venues, 18 billeting centers for the athletes and technical officials scattered along Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Sto. Domingo, Ligao, Bacacay, and Legazpi will be used.[18]
As of March 12, 2016:
Camalig
- Camalig Gymnasium - Table Tennis (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Provincial Engineering Office - Archery (Secondary)
- Bagumbayan Covered Court - Sepak Takraw (Juniors)
- Bicol College Gymnasium - Volleyball (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- BUCENG Gymnasium - Volleyball (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Daraga Covered Court - Sepak Takraw (Seniors / Girls)
- Sunshine International School Gymnasium - Basketball (Girls - Secondary)
- United Institute – Goalball
Guinobatan
- Albay Provincial Sports Center - Football (Boys - Elementary)
- Arandungan Hall - Wrestling (Boys/Girls - Secondary)
- BUCAF Tennis Court - Tennis (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Guinobatan Covered Court - Futsal (Girls - Secondary)
- Ohhlala Resort Tennis Court – Tennis (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Albay Astrodome - Badminton (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Albay Ligñon Hill Tennis Court - Tennis (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Albay Sports and Tourism Complex - Opening and Closing Ceremonies
- Aquinas Dome - Taekwando (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Ayala Mall Legazpi - Billiards (Boys/Girls - Secondary)
- Aquinas University of Legazpi Student Pavilion - Chess (Secondary/Elementary)
- Bicol University Football Field - Football (Boys - Secondary)
- BU Research and Development Center – Bocce
- BU Institute of Architecture – Shot Put
- DENR Gymnasium - Volleyball (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- DPWH 2nd District Engineering Office Gymnasium - Volleyball (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Divine Word College of Legazpi High School Gymnasium - Arnis (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Hotel St. Ellis - Wushu (Boys/Girls - Secondary)
- Ibalong Centrum for Recreation - Basketball (Boys - Secondary)
- Peñaranda Park - Boxing (Boys - Secondary)
- Sagrada Familia Gymnasium - Basketball (Boys - Elementary)
- St. Agnes Academy - Gymnastics (Boys/Girls - Secondary/Elementary)
- Mayon Rivera Subdivision - Baseball (Boys - Secondary/Elementary), Softball (Boys - Secondary/Elementary)
- Sto. Domingo Basketball Court - Basketball (Girls - Secondary)
Competition proper
Opening ceremonies
Before the opening ceremonies, a torch relay was conducted from April 8, 2016 until the opening day.[19]
The opening ceremony was held on April 10, 2016 at the Albay Sports and Tourism Complex, that was lasted for two hours.[20] The program was hosted by ABS-CBN Sports and Action anchor TJ Manotoc. One of the main parts of the afternoon program was the grand parade of more than 14,000 student-athletes from 18 regions competing in the Palarong Pambansa. The athletes, then sang "Sulong Sa Tagumpay Atletang Pinoy" (Onward to the Victories of Filipino Athletes), the 2016 Palarong Pambansa Hymn, composed by Francisco Bulalacao, Jr.
Among those who have given the welcoming remarks during the event are Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, Daraga Mayor Gerry Jaucian and Deped Region 5 Director Ramon Fiel Abcede. Former Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima and Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno, who both senatorial candidates were present in the opening ceremonies. The Palarong Pambansa banner was turn-over from the officials of the 2015 host province Davao del Norte to Albay governor Joey Salceda and Abcede. Education secretary Armin Luistro formally opens the affair. During the event, a skydiver from the Philippine Air Force was injured and rushed to the hospital after the accidental landing of his parachute into a swimming pool.[21]
GlobalPort Batang Pier basketball player Terrence Romeo and Francis Everesto, the first person-with-disability (PWD) torchbearer in the competition's history, formally lit the cauldron with a friendship urn, signifying the start of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Albay. The ceremony ended with a fireworks display.[20][22]
Medals
Regular Games
- As of 16 April 2016, 12:55 (UTC+8)[23]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 104 | 57 | 48 | 209 |
| 2 | | 40 | 43 | 59 | 142 |
| 3 | | 35 | 35 | 39 | 109 |
| 4 | | 29 | 31 | 29 | 89 |
| 5 | | 25 | 24 | 36 | 85 |
| 6 | | 21 | 28 | 39 | 88 |
| 7 | | 20 | 20 | 29 | 69 |
| 8 | | 17 | 14 | 28 | 59 |
| 9 | | 12 | 19 | 15 | 46 |
| 10 | | 8 | 18 | 19 | 45 |
| 11 | | 8 | 5 | 18 | 31 |
| 12 | | 6 | 7 | 15 | 28 |
| 13 | | 6 | 3 | 9 | 18 |
| 14 | | 5 | 11 | 21 | 37 |
| 15 | | 5 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| 16 | | 4 | 9 | 8 | 21 |
| 17 | | 3 | 4 | 10 | 17 |
| 18 | | 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 |
| Totals (18 nations) | 349 | 340 | 440 | 1129 | |
References
- Manicad, Julius (April 11, 2016). "March of 14,000 athletes fires off Palaro". The Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- Alcober, Neil (2015-10-31). "Albay to host 2016 Palarong Pambansa". Manila Times. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
- Lozada, Mei-Lin (January 25, 2016). "First-time host Albay all set for Palarong Pambansa". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- Chavez, Richiel (1 February 2016). "DepEd signs deal". Sun Star Cebu. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- "Salceda leads Albay athletes, delegates to Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City". The Manila Times. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- Laking, Jimmy (14 June 2015). "DepEd to assess Palaro hosting". Baguio Midland Courier. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- Pasagoy, Mark Victor (23 June 2015). "Baguio keen on hosting 2016 Palarong Pambansa". Sun Star Baguio. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- Geronga, Jean Rose (5 May 2015). "Albay to host 2016 editions of the Palarong Pamabansa, PRISAA national games". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- "Albay is this year's sports tourism capital!". When In Manila. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
- "2016 Palaro in Albay to become a sports tourism event". The Philippine Star. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- Co, Chris (February 1, 2016). "P450M inilaan ng Albay na budget sa Palaro (P450M Palaro budget to be spent by Albay)". Pilipino Star Ngayon. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- "Palarong Pambansa 2016". Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. March 8, 2016. DZSR 918.
- "ABS-CBN SPORTS + ACTION TO BROADCAST PALARONG PAMBANSA 2016" (Press release). ABS-CBN Social Media Newsroom. April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- "ABS-CBN Sports + Action to air 2016 Palarong Pambansa". ABS-CBN News. April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- Natividad, Ernesto (April 10, 2016). "Palarong Pambansa gets under way in Albay". Manila Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- Magsumbol, Caecent No-ot (April 11, 2016). "Palaro goes full blast today". The Freeman. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- "Venues Map". Palarong Pambansa 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-02-20. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- Joey Salceda's Facebook post
- Ganglani, Naveen (April 10, 2016). "What's in store for the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2016?". Rappler. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- "WATCH: First PWD torchbearer and Terrence Romeo open Palaro". Rappler. April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- April 10, 2016. "Palarong Pambansa 2016, umarangkada na (Palarong Pambansa 2016, now underway)". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- "IN PHOTOS: A colorful 2016 Palarong Pambansa opening". Rappler. April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- "2016 Palarong Pambansa - Final and Official Results as of 4/16/2016 - Regular Sports". Department of Education. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.