The Department of Education – Cordillera said that as of Thursday night, August 3, the Cordillera Fearless Highlanders hauled a total of 22 medals from various sports events hosted by Marikina City.
Cordilleran athletes collected nine gold, nine silver and four bronze medals, good for ninth place among 17 competing regions.
The medal tally is expected to increase as the national sports events ends on August 5.
The team of Lobbonan, Obriacoro and Alexandria Daphne Aganon of the Saint Louis University – Laboratory Elementary School took the another gold in the poomsae elementary girls team category.
Aganon with Jheron Cristobal took another gold in the poomsae mixed pair in the elementary category.
The Team Poomsae secondary female contenders Khia Mae Cortez, a Grade 8 from UB; 8th Grader Acey Kiana Oglayon of the National Academy of Sports; and 10th Grader Aesha Kiara Oglayon of Small World Christian School Foundation seized the gold medal during the final round of their game.
Grade 12 Gabriel Ivan Inacay of the UB Science High School, Grade 12 Zeick Andrei Tacay of Baguio City National Science High School, and 8th Grader Caleb Angelo Calde of the National Academy of Sports snatched the gold medal for team poomsae secondary male category.
Also, the poomsae-mixed players for both elementary and secondary levels bagged gold medals. 6th Graders Jheron Cristobal of Baguio Higher Ground Christian and Alexandria Daphne Aganon of SLU Laboratory Elementary School did it for elementary level while Aesha Kiara Oglayon and Gabriel Ivan Inacay bagged the gold for the secondary level.
Jun Adrian Wagtingan, Xhaire Kub-ao and Shallyn Joy Tallog also took the gold medal in the Taekwondo Kyurugi – flyweight girls category.
Meanwhile, Arnis athletes produced two gold medals thru the team of Princess Ysabelle Jorvina and Grasher Anne Lagunday, both incoming grade 7 learners, along with Josela Riana Maddawat, an incoming grade 6, all from the Josefa Carino Elementary School, took the gold for the synchronized double weapon category.
There were also two golds in the paragames with Nathaniel Guay for the 100 meters – 16 and above category and Rovic Dulagan and Alpha Ruth Cosisi for the mixed doubles of the bocce.
On August 3, DepEd-CAR Regional Director Estela Cariño visited the Cordillera delegation to provide inspiration and award special recognition at the Barangka Elementary School in Marikina City.
Cariño thanked the student-athletes for exhibiting their skills and talents through their participation in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa. She likewise recognized the support and commitment of all coaches, co-coaches, chaperones, heads, and members of the working committees in diligently managing their assigned tasks.
In appreciation of the achievements of the athletes, the Regional Director led the awarding of cash incentives to medalists- P5,000 for gold; P3,000 for silver, and P2,000 for bronze.
She also awarded cash allowance of P1,500 to each member of the delegation for their laundry, toiletries, and other incidental expenses.
Winning coaches, co-coaches, and chaperones are also entilted to incentives worth P1,500 for gold, P1,000 for silver, and P500 for bronze, which they will claim personally from the Finance committee.
The local government of Marikina City, the DepEd-National Capital Region Office, and the Schools Division Office of Marikina City are hosting this year’s edition of the scholastic multi-sport competition.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte graced the opening ceremony of the country’s largest youth sporting event involving elementary and high school student-athletes, at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City on Monday, July 31, 2023.
More than 9,172 athletes, coaches, and officials from the 17 regions are competing in 34 sports disciplines including the games for the differently abled from July 31 to August 5, 2023.
The Cordillera Fearless Highlanders delegation is composed of 463 athletes and coaches and DepEd personnel from the different provinces of the region. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
