Duterte opens PNG; 43 golds up today

declared CEBU the CITY Phl – President National Games Duterte open officially last night while encouraging participants to serve the country by inspiring younger generations to excel in their respective sporting fields.

“I’m proud to say that the spirit of the Filipino athletes is alive in all of us today (yesterday). I know the efforts of the Phl Sports Commission and its partners for successfully organizing this event,” said Duterte, who had to rush from a launching of an oil-producing company in nearby Alegria town.

“May this occasion serve as a platform to promote patriotism within our athletic community,” he added.

PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez, for his part, thanked the President as well as all the people who supported the staging of this

weeklong event that serves as the national

Students and dancers from different dance clubs perform during the opening ceremony of the Philippine National Games held at Cebu City Sports Center. JUN MENDOZA

championships of the

country’s top sports associations. “I am most

for and Ramirez. chief the the role the showing President’s sports PNG “We but his are play support, support to lucky in sports nation-building.” especially to not and have in only general,” recognition the to grateful nation’s the said PSC to

43 including Philippine Action gold medals officially 23 National in centerpiece at starts stake Games today in at athletics various the with Cebu at fronts in least City the Sports 10,000 by women’s The six more meters Center first high in gold jump, here. at men’s the will and break and come boys’ women’s of and from dawn men’s women’s shot followed 3000m put, steeplechase disputed In the in afternoon, 110m in the hurdles morning 17 gold for events medals boys at and the will track. men, be 100m vault 400m for hurdles for boys, girls, for discus boys, boys, throw men girls, and for men boys women, and and women, girls, pole 5000m and 2000m for girls steeplechase and boys, for long girls. jump for men

will Right battle beside for eight the oval mints is the – pool 200m where individual tankers medley, 100m, 1500m and 800m freestyle and 50m backstroke for men and women.

Over in Naga, which is about an hour and half from the main hub, weightlifting is staking eight.

The standard event of chess will likewise unfold today with Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna leading the women’s division and GMs John Paul Gomez and Joey Antonio spearheading the men’s side at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Phl Sports commissioner Ramon Fernandez said he expects participants to give it their all as teams. they battle for a possible spot in the national