1st Palaro Delegation from Palawan arrive in Pangasinan

Lingayen- - -Delegations from Palawan province composed of some 278 athletes and officials are the first to arrive in Pangasinan for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa slated on May 6 to 12.

The delegation, which is housed at Tandoc Elementary School in San Carlos City, left Palawan last April 15 and arrived in Pangasinan 24 hours later (April 16).

Zenaida T. Dusong, Education Supervisor of Region IV-B and delegation assistant, said that they decided to come 11 days earlier instead of their former scheduled trip of April 27 to allow their athletes to train longer and to familiarize them with the different playing venues before the start of the national games. “It’s a long trip and we are thankful that we have arrived in Pangasinan safe and sound,” she noted.

Amado Gunda, head of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City delegation, said that they were warmly welcomed by the school officials upon their arrival to their billeting site and they started to visit some of the playing venues like Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), CSI Stadia, Pangasinan State University (PSU), and Capitol beachfront. “So far so good, mukhang well-prepared ang Pangasinan na maghost and we are happy for this opportunity to visit your province,” he cited.

Meanwhile, Atty. Verna Nava-Perez, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary and head of Palaro secretariat, said that thousands of athletes with their school officials and coaches are expected to arrive next week.

Perez said that the province is all set and ready to host for the second time after 17 years the biggest national sports competition. “As what Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s previous statement goes, Palarong Pambansa 2012 will prove to be the benchmark of all future Palaro,” the SP secretary said.

Billeting schools for the different delegations are as follows:  Pangasinan National High School (Region I), Labrador Central School and Labrador High School (Region II), Dagupan City National High School (Region III), Estanza Elementary and Estanza National High School in Lingayen (Reg. IV-A), Tandoc Elementary and Tandoc National High School in San Carlos City (Reg. IV-B), Calasiao Central School (Region V), San Carlos Central School II (Reg. VI), Lingayen I Central School (Reg. VII), Binmaley School of Fisheries and TESDA (Reg. VIII), Binmaley North Elementary School and Binmaley I Central School (Reg. IX), Domalandan Center Elementary School (Reg. X) Calasiao Comprehensive National High School (Reg. XI), SEPNAS in San Carlos City (Reg. XII), San Carlos Central School I (Reg. XIII), Polong Elementary School and Polong National High School (ARMM), Bugallon Integrated School and Torres Elementary School (CAR), Dagupan West Central School I and Dagupan West Central School II (NCR).

The playing venues for the various sports events, on the other hand, include Capitol Resort (archery), NRSCC (arnis, athletics, basketball, football, tennis and volleyball), CSI Stadia ( badminton, and table tennis), PNP PPO ( baseball and tennis), Governor’s Resthouse (baseball), Binmaley Catholic School (basketball),  Lyceum Northwestern University (basketball), Lingayen Municipal Plaza ( boxing), Pangasinan Training and Development Center (chess), Pangasinan State University (football, and volleyball), Virgen Milagrosa University (football and tennis), Dagupan People’s Astrodome ( gymnastics), Arenas Gym ( sepak takraw/sipa), Capitol Beachfront (softball), Dagupan Poolsite (swimming), DWAD (taekwondo), Calasiao Tennis Court (tennis), Tonton Elementary School in Lingayen (volleyball), Libsong Barangay Court in Lingayen (volleyball) with Baay Elementary School as alternate venue.

            The best athletes coming from the country’s 17 regions will outshine each other in various sports events which include archery, arnis, badminton, athletics, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw/sipa, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.