Quezon City to host 67th edition of Palarong Pambansa in 2027

AFTER 61 years, the Palarong Pambansa will find its way to the City of Stars next year.

Quezon City (QC), known as the heart of the Philippine entertainment and media industry like Hollywood in Los Angeles, will also be a mecca of national sporting joust when it hosts the 67^th edition of the Games next year.

QC last served as Palaro host in 1966 when the gargantuan Amoranto Stadium and Sports Complex was inaugurated. It will serve as the main hub of the annual summer scholastic multi-sport meet following a successful edition in Agusan del Sur as first-time host.

“The 2027 Palarong Pambansa is a full circle moment for our city. Since then, our city has been home to some of the most defining moments in Philippine sports history,” said QC Mayor Joy Belmonte, who personally accepted the hosting torch and banner from Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. of Agusan del Sur, during the 66^th Palaro closing ceremony over the weekend at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov.D.O. Plaza Sports Complex.

“Quezon City knows what it means to host greatness. And this is the experience that we want every Palaro athlete to carry with them in 2027. A champions’ experience, the same feeling countless world-class athletes have known on our grounds.”

The Amoranto Sports Complex has been under renovation for years with its full reopening projected to finish this year featuring a 15,000-capacity stadium in front of a world-class standard 8-lane track oval and football field.

It also has a 10-lane Olympic-sized swimming pools, basketball and volleyball gyms, badminton and table tennis court, tennis and pickleball courts, weightlifting and boxing gym, billiards hall and more.

Also seen as added venues for next year’s Palaro is the University of the Philippines in Diliman and the Business District, including the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, where all roads lead to and from every key city in the entire Philippines.

QC is dubbed as the most accessible city in the metropolis with bus terminals to and from every city in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao either through sea, land or air. It boasts a 24/7 route to Manila, Batangas or Sorsogon ports, to the NAIA in Pasay City, or Clark International Airport in Pampanga as well as serving as the convergence of National Capital Region’s (NCR) three train lines in LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3.

And that’s what makes QC a perfect and ready host to gather an expected delegation of up to 20,000 or more.

“We thrive in the fact that all roads lead to, and through, us. We are proud to be connected to every corner of this great archipelago. And we carry this affinity with us as we open our home for next year’s Palarong Pambansa,” added Ms. Belmonte.

But QC will have some tall order to eclipse after Agusan del Sur passed with flying colors as first-time host.

“Dumating ang pagkakataon ng Agusan del Sur at hindi nila ito sinayang, mula sa goosebumps na Opening Salvo, hanggang sa pagbibigay atensyon at alaga sa humigit kumulang 16,000 delegado rito,” said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara.

Aside from world-class facilities across 36 venues in the entire province including the international-standard media center with up to 20 large TV screens showing all the games, Agusan del Sur drew praises for hospitality, air-conditioned billeting quarters, “Libreng Sakay,” free tourist tours and food.

“This year showed that sports competitions can be organized at a higher standard while keeping athletes at the center of every decision. Agusan del Sur has raised the bar for future hosts,” added Mr. Angara.

QC serving as Palaro host will roll the red carpet for the 20^th straight title bid of the fancied NCR after lording it over the 18-region field, including the National Academy of Sports and the Philippine Schools Overseas, once more in Agusan del Sur.

NCR, led by the Palaro’s most bemedaled athlete in tanker Patricia Mae Santor of University of Santo Tomas with seven golds, harvested 91 gold, 70 silver and 71 bronze medals in both elementary and high school divisions.

Calabarzon retained its second-place finish at 55-50-60 while Davao Region (34-32-35) stole the thunder from usual third placer Western Visayas to complete the podium.

Western Visayas (31-36-45) settled for fifth spot as Central Visayas placed fourth at 32-30-44. Host Caraga impressed with a sixth-place finish after golds in football and pet events combat sports to cap its magnificent hosting. — John Bryan Ulanday