The 2018 Palarong Pambansa was the 61st edition of the Palarong Pambansa

multi-sports event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...

and was held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur from April 15 to 21, 2018. Student athletes from 17 athletic associations representing the 17

regions of the Philippines In the Philippines, regions ( fil, rehiyon; ISO 3166-2:PH) are administrative divisions that primarily serve to coordinate planning and organize national government services across multiple local government units (LGUs). Most national governm ...

competed in different sporting events and disciplines.

Bidding

The cities of Baguio, Iligan, Vigan and the province of Bukidnon made a bid to host the 61st Palarong Pambansa. In 2017, Vigan was selected host of the Games. In January 2018, the Department of Education and the provincial government of Ilocos Sur signed a memorandum of agreement regarding the hosting of the games to be held primarily in Vigan.

The Games

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Palarong Pambansa was held at the

Quirino Stadium The President Elpidio Quirino Stadium, simply known as the Quirino Stadium is a sports facility in the town of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. History The Quirino Stadium was inaugurated in 1953 by then President Elpidio Quirino, the namesake ...

in Bantay, Ilocos Sur on April 15, 2018. Philippine President

Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...

was the guest speaker of the event for the second consecutive year. Duterte stated that the event is a breeding ground for future sports icons and nation-builders, "whose values and principles are founded on perseverance, discipline, teamwork, integrity, and love of country". Sports personalities including chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, cue artist Efren "Bata" Reyes, bowler Paeng Nepomuceno, swimmer Eric Buhain, long jumper Elma Muros,

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

silver medalist Mansueto Velasco, 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Luis Gabriel Moreno and

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz led the carrying of the giant Philippine flag. Moreno then lit the friendship cauldron using an arrow shot, symbolizing the commencement of the games. Lydia de Vega-Mercado, considered as Asia's fastest woman in the 1980s, was honored as the Palarong Pambansa Lifetime Achievement Awardee during the opening rites. Her daughter, Stephanie represented her in the event. On the second day of the Games on 16 April 2018, barefoot runner Lheslie de Lima from Camarines Sur won the first gold medal of the event in the 3,000 meter run (secondary girls category). She dedicated the win to her distant relative Senator

Leila de Lima Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima (born August 27, 1959) is a Filipina politician, lawyer, human rights activist and law professor who previously served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. She was the chairperson of ...

, who is currently in prison. At the final day of the Games on April 21, 2018, the National Capital Region capped off their campaign with their 14th straight-overall championship, winning 100 gold, 70 silver and 50 bronze medals. Calabarzon and Western Visayas ended up with 1st and 2nd runner-up finishes, respectively.

Sports

Regular Sports

These are the regular sports disciplines that were played in the games.

Demonstration sports

These are the seven demonstration sports played at this year's Palarong Pambansa.

Special Para Games

These are the four para sports that were contested at this year's Palarong Pambansa. * Swimming * Bocce * Goalball * Athletics

Participating regions

A total of 17 athletic associations coming from 17 regions of the country participated in the athletic meet. The provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental which competed under the Negros Island Region in the previous two editions of the games (

2016 Palarong Pambansa The 2016 Palarong Pambansa was the 59th edition of the annual multi-sporting event for Filipino student-athletes. Athletic associations from the country's 18 regions were competed in different sporting events and discipline. The games were held at ...

and

2017 Palarong Pambansa The 2017 Palarong Pambansa was the 60th edition of the Palarong Pambansa and was held from April 23 to 29, 2017 in Antique. Student athletes from 18 athletic associations representing the 18 regions of the Philippines competed in different sport ...

) will now compete and merge with their previous original regions, Western Visayas and Central Visayas respectively, after the Negros Island Region which was created in 2015 was dissolved by President

Playing Venues

At least 34 different locations in various towns across Ilocos Sur and its capital city Vigan were selected as the playing venues for the 26 sports disciplines of the games.

Billeting Areas

Athletic Delegations

Several public and private elementary, secondary and tertiary schools, colleges and universities situated at the provincial capital Vigan and nearby towns were selected as the billeting areas for delegates and officials of the games. ''CS - central school, NCS - north central school, SCS - south central school, ES - elementary school, IS - integrated school, NHS - national high school.''

Technical Officials and Referees

Official Medal Tally

Regular Games

Demo Sports

Para Games

References

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2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

Palarong Pambansa Palarong Pambansa Culture of Ilocos Sur April 2018 sports events in the Philippines