President Marcos opens palaro; sara a no-show: “An important legacy” – President Marcos

CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos yesterday graced the opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 at the Cebu City Sports Center, saying the annual sporting spectacle has become an important legacy that celebrates unity and camaraderie.

This, as Vice President and outgoing education Secretary Sara Duterte opted to skip the opening ceremony in an apparent move to avoid sharing the stage with the President.

Instead, Duterte went to the Cebu City Medical Center to check on the health condition of athletes who were admitted due to dengue.

The vice president extended moral support to those that were confined at the city hospital.

“Siniguro naman ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd) at host LGU na Cebu City na bibigyan ng karampatang assistance ang mga naapektohang mag-aaral hanggang sa kanilang paggaling,” a post from DepEd reads after Duterte’s visit.

Aside from the athletes, Duterte also checked on the other patients in the said hospital. In fact, the vice president reportedly took much of her time at the pedia ward.

The vice president, however, sent her message ahead of the Palaro opening.

Duterte recognized that sporting events such as the Palarong Pambansa prepares the student athletes in the bigger challenges in life.

“Kinikilala natin ang taunang Palarong Pambansa bilang tradisyon ng Department of Education na may malalim at makabuluhang papel sa paglinang ng ating mga mag-aaral at paghahanda para sa mas malalaking kompetisyon sa buhay,” VP Sara said.

Duterte prays for a successful holding of the event while also recognizing everyone that has extended their help in the event from the private sector as well as the participants themselves, the local government units, especially the host Cebu City government along with the support of the Cebu Province.

“Kasabay ng pagbubukas ng Palarong Pambasa 2024 sa Cebu City ngayong araw ay ang aking dasal at hangarin para sa tagumpay ng ating mga layunin na maisulong ang akma, napapanahon, at dekalidad na edukasyon para sa mga kabataang Pilipino,” added VP Sara.

Duterte said that Palaro is a testament of DepEd’s commitment and dedication they have for the learners.

“Sa ating mga atleta, dito ay hindi kayo uuwing talo - dahil ang inyong partisipasyon sa ating mga kompetisyon ay isa nang tagumpay para sa bawat isa sa inyo. Baunin sana ninyo ang mga leksyon ng pakikipagkaibigan, disiplina, pagpupursige, at katatagan para sa katuparan ng inyong mga pangarap,” she said.

Despite Duterte’s absence, the opening ceremony went smoothly.

The president acknowledged the Palarong Pambansa as the country’s pinnacle of national sporting events and the country’s main platform where future record holders and Olympic champions are honed.

“Today, we continue this important legacy, celebrating not just the games but also celebrating the unity, the camaraderie, and the national pride that these games inspire,” Marcos said.

“It is also a platform where we discover, where we develop, and hone future professional athletes, Olympians, and servant-leaders,” he added.

According to the president, this year’s Palaro showcases “many firsts”, including the participation of athletes from the NAS and POS.

This is also the first time that dance sports will become a regular feature of the games, “a fitting tribute to Cebu, which is one of the most active cities in dance sport competition,” he said.

Philippine Sports Commissioner Edward Hayco, the godfather of dancesports in Cebu City, brims with pride and joy to hear the president’s acknowledgement of dancesport.

Dancesport here is more than just a sport, it is transformational.

"It (dancesport) has put Cebu on the Palaro map," Hayco said.

Soft Tennis, Karatedo, football for secondary girls, and e-sports are also set to make their debut as exhibition sports this year.

The President also took note of the integration of technology in web platforms, social media, game statistics, and live streaming.

“It will not only connect [these] games to families and fans around the world but also provide valuable data that we can use to improve [our] performance in future competitions,” said Marcos.

He said the values and virtues that will be displayed and put into practice during the sporting event, such as excellence, teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship, are the same ideals needed to succeed in life and build a great nation.

“This occasion holds enormous significance beyond just sports,” Marcos said. — (FREEMAN)