Weightlifting may be added to the coming stagings of the Palarong Pambansa.
The possibility of its inclusion got a boost on Tuesday when the country’s first-ever Filipino Olympic gold medalist, weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz paid Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara a courtesy visit.
Angara, the newly named chairman of the Palarong Pambansa board, listened as Diaz, along with her husband Julius Naranjo, discussed her plans to put up a weightlifting training clinic and program for coaches.
Diaz won the country its first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo games three years ago and bagged a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Olympian also offered to assist in providing technical officials to the games and conduct amateur weightlifting competitions.
DepEd officials said the plan to include weightlifting in the games was met with a positive response from Angara, who himself is involved in sports development before he became the department’s secretary. Angara is also involved with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as its chairman.
The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, through its president Monico Puentevella, has been seeking the inclusion of the sport in the Palaro in the past.
But for now, there is possibility that weightlifting will first be considered as a demonstration sport in the 2025 Palaro in Ilocos Norte.
Angara has also made efforts to boost the sports development programs of the DepEd.
On behalf of the department, he recently signed an agreement with volleyball stalwarts Rebisco and Creamline to nurture youth values formation and wellness through grassroots volleyball development.
As an advocate for youth development through sports, Angara underscored the significance of REBISCOVER Learning partnership, which includes the RebisCONGRESS or the conduct of training programs and volleyball clinics among the schools’ volleyball coaches and athletes.
Meanwhile, Angara has appointed undersecretary Revsee Escobedo as the new Palarong Pambansa secretary general. Escobedo previously handled the Palaro’s operations.
