The 2025 Batang Pinoy National Championships is expected to draw a record number of 15,000 young athletes when it is hosted from October 25 to 31 in General Santos City.
Unlike the Palarong Pambansa, which is exclusive to student-athletes, Batang Pinoy opens its door to the out-of-school youth, making it the broader, more inclusive grassroots’ program.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio said the annual national youth sports meet will serve as a pathway for aspiring athletes to excel in higher-level competitions during the games’ launching on Thursday at the Sheraton Hotel in Manila.
“It is exactly what we have. A grassroots program, which is Batang Pinoy that leads to the Palarong Pambansa, papunta ng Tertiary Games, going to the Youth Games and to national competitions,” said Gregorio.
The Batang Pinoy, which continues to serve as the country’s national youth sports competition for athletes aged 18 years old and under, will once again offer cash prizes amounting to P5 million to the winning local government with the most medals.
The agency has allotted P4 million in cash to the second placer, and P3 million to the third-placed LGU.
“A grassroots program will not happen without a Batang Pinoy that is well-funded, and it will not be a great program if not hosted by the provinces,” added Gregorio.
This year’s edition will feature 27 events, namely swimming, archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball (3×3), boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, futsal, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, judo, kickboxing, karate, muay, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.
