San Juan City: National Capital Region’s Titus Rafael Sia delivered another performance at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium swimming pool, securing his fifth gold medal in the 65th Palarong Pambansa. The 12-year-old from San Juan City dominated the elementary boys’ 400-meter freestyle event, setting a new meet record of 4:31.39. This record surpassed Davao Region’s Omar Dacera’s 4:35.42, established in the 2009 edition held in Tacloban City, Leyte. Caraga Region’s Cosme Calejesan and Francis Anunciado took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sia, an incoming Grade 7 student at Xavier School, also made new records in the 200m and 100m backstroke, and triumphed in the 400m freestyle and 4×50 medley relay alongside teammates Reighlem Scziyo Salon, Mackenzie, Findlay Jake Mackenzie, and Joshua Erik Chua. In the elementary girls’ division, Sophia Rose Garra of De La Salle Araneta University in Malabon earned five golds in the 200m Individual Medley, 100m backstroke, 100m and 200m freestyle, and 4x50m medley relay with teammates Adrianne Reese Tacuboy, Kaeley Vianna Cabalida, and Ceanna Gabrielle Mitra.
In athletics, Central Luzon Region’s Lance Nicolas of Taal High School recorded 3.80 meters in the secondary boys’ pole vault, outperforming NCR’s Francis Allen Sillar and Northern Mindanao’s Jay Clarabal. Nicolas’ teammate, Kae Ross Ferrer, won the elementary boys’ 1500m. Other winners included Cagayan Valley’s Angel Agapito in the secondary girls’ high jump, Davao Region’s Mary Jane Pagayon in the secondary girls’ 1500m, and Eastern Visayas Region’s Joyce Panganoron in the elementary girls’ 1500m.
At the Bacarra National Cultural Center, NCR claimed victory in the mixed category of aero gymnastics, with Mab Ysabelle Angela Esguerra and Anton Eliezer Dungog winning in the secondary category, and Antonette Amante and Jerico Catilogo succeeding in the elementary category.
Winners in the wushu competition at the Sarrat Civic Center included Davao Region’s Ivy Ledama, Jacob Rey Agad, Abrianna Jed Payao, and Clarens Villacastin. Other gold medalists were Cordillera Administrative Region’s Aron Dulos, Joelle Pe±aflor, Xiviel Bantali, Soccsksargen Region’s King McJones Moreno, and Ilocos Region’s James Duag.
As of 6:30 p.m., NCR leads the overall medal tally with 77 golds, 52 silvers, and 31 bronzes in the annual event organized by the Department of Education. Calabarzon Region follows in second place, with Western Visayas Region in third. Davao Region has moved up to fourth place, while Northern Mindanao Region is in fifth. Central Visayas holds the No. 6 spot, followed by Central Luzon, CAR, Caraga, Eastern Visayas Region, Soccsksargen, Ilocos Region, Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley Region, National Academy of Sports, Zamboanga Peninsula, Mimaropa Region, and BARMM.
