Big names to grace Palaro opening

MANILA, Philippines – A star-studded roster headed by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, former president Joseph Estrada, Sochi Winter Olympics veteran Michael Martinez and basketball superstar James Yap will usher in the Palarong Pambansa unfurling Sunday in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Host Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito-Estregan said the games will open early Sunday, with the first gold medals expected to be won in centerpiece track and field at the Laguna Sports Complex, while the opening ceremony is set on Monday at the main hub where Pacquiao, Estrada, Martinez and Yap will make their appearances.

Also expected to join the already loaded inaugurals are former national swimmer and now television personality Enchong Dee, TV hosts Dyan Castillejo and Ginger Conejero, and collegiate superstars Jeron of La Salle and Jeric Teng of Santo Tomas.

"It's going to be an opening ceremony to remember because we're bringing in the stars for our athletes, coaches, officials and their families to enjoy," said Ejercito-Estregan in Wednesday night's presser at the SM Calamba.

All of the 11,200 athletes and coaches from all 17 participating region including powerhouse National Capital Region and 1,200 technical officials are all accounted for with some arriving as early as Tuesday.

The athletes, billeted to 37 schools, are competing in 27 sports counting the ones played in the Olympics like athletics, swimming, football, archery, gymnastics and boxing among others spread to 16 playing venues all across the province considered as the country's third most visited tourist spot next to Coron, Palawan and Sagada, Mountain Province because of its falls and Spanish era churches.

Laguna has also spent millions of funds to renovate its 19-hectare main hub that included a fully air-conditioned basketball gym with a 2,500 seating capacity, an Olympic-size pool, a rubberized tartan track oval with enough lightings to host night games, a football field, a couple of softball diamonds, the same number of baseball fields, four tennis courts, an archery and firing range and a multi-purpose gym.

Fronting the complex, which has a built in sewerage treatment plant, is a 26-feet bronze monument of the Phl's national Jose Rizal as a sportsman, who happens to ba native of the province.

To top it, PLDT Home DSL through its head Gary Dujali has partnered with the Palaro to provide broadband connections and live streaming facilities for the event.

"As it is, Laguna is already a tourist destination. But by hosting the Palarong Pambansa, the country's version of the Olympics, we are hoping to also put our great province into the sports tourism map," said Ejercito-Estregan.