Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) – After having been sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, the Palarong Pambasa (national games) will be back beginning July 29 and will feature with a familiar and new sports lineup.
For the first time, Filipino gamers will compete against each other in the inaugural Palarong Pambansa Esport event, which will also see the revival of the Laro ng Lahi (Indigenous Filipino Games) featuring three games.
The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will banner as the lone demonstration esport of the 63rd Palarong Pambansa.
Other demonstration sports will include para games, dancesport and pencak silat, while cheerdance, weightlifting, and obstacle course racing will be showcased as exhibition games.
E-Palarong Pambansa project lead Jamar Montehermoso earlier told CNN Philippines that the esports event aims to “create a stable and sustainable grassroots esports ecosystem to promote esports as a supplementary part of a holistic development of the Filipino youth.”
RELATED: E-Palarong Pambansa aims to create sustainable grassroots ecosystems
Para games will also debut in the national sporting event. Athletes will compete in games like bocce, swimming, goalball and track and field sports.
The Laro ng Lahi (Indigenous Filipino Games) will also make its comeback in the tournament.
According to the DepEd, regions nationwide must each select 10 players to participate in the Laro ng Lahi, which will include the indigenous games Kadang-kadang, Tumbang Preso and Patintero.
Marikina City will host this year’s Palarong Pambasa. However, the gymnastics events will be held in Quezon City due to venue requirements.
Division meets were held last Feb. 6 to 10, while regional meets were conducted on April 24 to 28.
Teams competing in baseball, basketball, football, futsal, sepak takraw, football and volleyball also underwent a qualifying meet before the national games.
Delegations were grouped in the qualifiers according to location, namely: Cluster 1 (Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region), Cluster 2 (CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, NCR, and Bicol Region), Cluster 3 (Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula Region) and Cluster 4 ( Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCKSARGEN, CARAGA, and BARMM).
Meanwhile, athletics, swimming, and archery will implement the qualifying distance, time, and points set by the Palarong Pambansa.
“Other sports that do not apply qualifying standards in the selection of athletes and are not identified as team sports will advance directly to the Palarong Pambansa culminating competitions,\” the DepEd said.
DepEd also said Filipinos enrolled in recognized schools overseas are welcome to participate in individual sports under the banner of Philippine Schools Overseas.
The Palarong Pambansa is an annual multi-sport event for Filipino student athletes. This year, the sports competition will run until Aug. 5.
