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From May 24 to 31, Ilocos Norte welcomed more than 15,000 student-athletes and delegates from across the country as it hosted the 65th Palarong Pambansa. The weeklong sporting event celebrated unity under the theme “Nagkakaisang Kapuluan” (United Archipelago), while also embracing a more forward-thinking, sustainable, and participant-centered approach to the games.
Twenty delegations representing the country’s 18 regions, the National Academy of Sports, and Philippine Schools Overseas competed for titles in 32 sports. Events were held across two cities and eight municipalities in Ilocos Norte.
President joined kickoff
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially opened the event, praising young athletes for their grit and determination. He also acknowledged the vital role of families and coaches in supporting their journey to the national stage.
“What you’ve been through hasn’t been easy,” he stated. “You should have just rested after class but instead, you persevered and used that time for practice and training.”
The President urged athletes to see the Palarong Pambansa as more than a competition but as a space to cultivate focus, teamwork, and respect. He also renewed the government’s commitment to nurturing grassroots sports and ensuring young talents have the resources they need to grow and thrive.
“The government is always behind you,” he added. “We will help you achieve your dreams because your win is ours too.”
(Also read: Ilocos Norte Energy Update: Renewables Push & Rural Electrification)
Eco-powered torch cauldron
Breaking from tradition, this year’s Palarong Pambansa unveiled a striking solar-powered light beam in place of the usual flaming cauldron. The “Palaro Light Beam,” illuminated the sky each night throughout the games—a symbolic shift toward sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint.
Set within the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, the light beam blended technology and symbolism in a modern tribute to Ilocos Norte’s landscape.
Drawing inspiration from the windswept tumbleweeds of the Paoay Sand Dunes, the structure combined metalwork, solar panels, LED screens, and upward-facing headlights shaped to resemble a stylized flame.
The ceremonial lighting of the beam featured a battery-charged torch, symbolically passed between Ilokano sports icons and promising young athletes.
Designed by Ilokano creatives led by Aian Raquel, the Palaro Light Beam—dubbed a “reverse cauldron”—embodied Ilocos Norte’s push for sustainability and reflected the province’s identity as Southeast Asia’s renewable energy capital.
Ilocos Norte hosts some of the country’s most prominent wind energy sites, including the Philippines’ largest wind farm in Burgos, Southeast Asia’s pioneering facility in Bangui, and another major installation in Pagudpud.
(Also read: Power Up Amianan: A Call for Reliable Energy Providers)
Program highlights
The official logo of Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte showcased a pixel-style figure modeled after Olympic legend Teófilo Yldefonso, famously known as the “Ilocano Shark.” A native of Piddig, Yldefonso made history as the first Olympic medalist from both the Philippines and Southeast Asia and is also honored for his courage in World War II.
Local artists brought Ilocos Norte’s vibrant heritage to life at the opening ceremony, presenting cultural performances that celebrated the province’s deep-rooted traditions and identity.
Throughout the week-long tournament, student-athletes took part in a diverse lineup of sports—from crowd favorites like volleyball, football, and basketball to individual competitions such as taekwondo, swimming, archery, and track and field. The program also featured wrestling, pencak silat, dancesport, badminton, wushu, softball, table tennis, boxing, and chess, along with gymnastics, arnis, futsal, tennis, baseball, and sepak takraw.
New to this year’s roster was weightlifting as a demonstration sport, while kickboxing, girls’ futsal (elementary), and girls’ football (secondary) were showcased as exhibition events.
Sources:
https://www.rappler.com/sports/palarong-pambansa/solar-powered-cauldron-ilocos-norte-2025
https://pia.gov.ph/pbbm-opens-2025-palarong-pambansa-hosted-by-ilocos-norte