Palawan: Host of Palarong Pambansa 2008
April 23, 008
Given the scarcity of time while in a conference session, I manage to sneak few moments of my time to visit the Palarong Pambansa being held here in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
As per the tricycle driver who acted as my guide, the venue of the events are in various places and giving him my choice of sport would be easy for him to bring me to the exact destination point. Instead, I have requested him to bring me to the nearest event venue regardless of sports.
The Palawan Coliseum is my first stop though its been late already still, what I can do is to have my occular visit and see the facility at the same time. The venue is for gymnastics and for the championship event for basketball. Gymnastics participants are practicing and Its on my advantage 'coz I will given a close encounter with the athletes while being trained by their respective coaches. It was amazing to see participants as young as 7 years old. I have seen them in their acrobatic moves that can be at par with their grown-up counter part doing triple loop in mid-air.
The following day after our lunch, I sneak again and proceeded to the main venue- The Ramon Mitra, Jr. Sports Complex and seen the basketball and volleyball event. The venue is just 15 minutes drive from our host in Brgy. San Jose. Tricycles there are mostly rented since more people are going to the sports complex.
The venue is huge with a standard Olympic size oval complete with figure statue of our favorite international sports superstar. I just don't know the relevance of these foreign sports figures to the current event. We are presenting our own common games and I can be pleased if I see Pacquiao's life-size figure.
Anyway, the local government of Puerto Princesa is really prepared for the event. They even spent less than P20 million to resurface their oval. Medical terminals are also being constructed in all competition venues to assure that athletes and officials will be taken care of during the tournament. Large billboards can also be seen to spell-out the highlight of the event.
The following are the list of the event.
- April 11, 2008 - Start of Screening of Athletes
Venue: Billeting Quarters of the Regional Delegations - April 16, 2008 -Arrival of the Technical Management & Administration
Venue: Palawan State University - April 17-19, 2008 - Search for Mr. & Miss Palaro 2008
Venue: Puerto Princesa City Coliseum - April 17-18, 2008 - Refresher Course for Technical Officials
Venue: Palawan State University - April 19, 2008 - Solidarity Meeting
Venue: Puerto Princesa Coliseum - April 20, 2008 - Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Palarong Pambansa
Venue: Puerto Princesa - April 21-26, 2008 - Competition Proper of the 2008 Palarong Pambansa
Venue: Different Playing Venues - April 23, 2008 - Special Games
Venue: Puerto Princesa Sports Complex - April 26, 2008 - Closing Ceremonies of the 2008 Palarong Pambansa
Venue: Puerto Princesa - April 27, 2008 - Homeward bound safe and sound
Venue: City Sports Complex
The Department of Education, which is organizing the Palaro with technical support from the Philippine Sports Commission, has allotted P60 million for the national tournament for athletes 18 years and below.
next.. city of palawan
