Former champion Franz Isaac Ubaldo of Laguna is back and will be among those seeking out golds from the 13 at stake at the start of the swimming competitions of the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy National Championships.
Now 15 years old, Ubaldo hopes to win two of the golds up for grabs in the National Youth Championship (Batang Pinoy) that is making a return after three years of absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
“Nakaka-miss po ang competition,” said Ubaldo, who earned two gold medals in the boys’ 12-under 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly events when the national games were held in Puerto Princesa City back in 2019.
This time, Ubaldo will seek out golds in the boys’ 15-under events of the 200-meter individual medley and in the 100-meter freestyle.
Some 1,386 swimmers are taking part in the swimming event, which will be held at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay.
Three years ago, Laguna tankers amassed eight gold medals to finish second behind Cotabato City, which had 14.
Five sports events will be held on Day 1, ushering in the country’s centerpiece grassroots’ development program in this province, which has fully reopened to tourism. They also include archery, badminton, chess and table tennis, to be held in different venues distributed in various Ilocos Sur cities and municipalities.
Archery is set at the San Ildefonso Central School grounds, while badminton is at the Ilocos Sur Badminton Center and Vigan Convention Center. Chess will be played at the Baluarte Function Hall, while table tennis is at the San Vicente Gym.
The centerpiece athletics’ competitions will commence on Sunday at the Quirino grounds, while cycling starts and ends at the Provincial Capitol in Vigan. Wightlifting will be at the Caoayan Gym.
Obstacle sports will start Monday at the Sta. Catalina Gym.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Jerry Singson, Philippine Sports Commission chair Noli Eala, commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo and Tokyo Olympics’ boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam are gracing the parade of colors.
The opening rites will take place in the afternoon at the Quirino grounds, before more than half of the 6,000 in and out-of-school youth athletes from 140 local government units across the nation do the traditional parade of teams.
“The goal of Gov. Singson is to show to the whole country, not just the province and Region I, that Ilocos Sur tourism is now fully open to business,” said Jester Singson, special assistant to the governor in sports.
Senator Imee Marcos and officials of various National Sports Associations are also gracing the inaugurals.