VIGAN CITY—The heritage province of Ilocos Sur is pulling all stops to make the 61st edition of the Palarong Pambansa the best ever even as President Rodrigo R. Duterte graced the opening rites at the Quirino Stadium Sunday.
“We just don’t want to set a gold standard for Palarong Pambansa hosting, but also turn the games as vehicle for sharing our blessings to the athletes and their officials,” Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Singson said.
The National President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, added: “Doing it right the first time’ is one of our province’s guideposts” (referring to Ilocos Sur’s initial foray as Palaro host).
Even before the games began, Ilocos Sur will already go down in the Palarong Pambansa history as the first host to foot the transportation bill (from Manila to Ilocos Sur) of the contingents from Visayas and Mindanao.”
Ilocos Sur supplemented the more than P300 million poured in by the organizing Department of Education.
A total of 20,000 athletes and officials from 17 regions will have their eyes feast on more than the skirmishes in the 29 sports on tap in the weeklong event.
Ilocos Sur is best known for its heritage and culture. Its capital, Vigan City, is in the UNESCO World Heritage list, likewise, the Nuestra Seá¹…ora Church in Santa Maria town.
Ilocos Sur’s hosting is all the more historic as it coincides with the bicentennial year celebration of Ilocos Sur after it was separated from Ilocos Norte in 1818 by virtue of Spanish Royal decree.