AIMING to discover new breed of potential Angeleño athletes to compete in various national and international sports events, the Angeles City Government led by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan launched the Palarong Panglungsod on Tuesday at the Don Bonifacio Covered Court in Barangay Pulung Maragul.
The barangay-based sports development program aims to encourage sports enthusiasts in the city to hone their skills and talents, and prepare them for future sports competitions and opportunities in the local and in abroad.
Spearheaded by the Angeles City Sports Office (ACSO), the program has been successfully running for the past six years to provide opportunity and venues for athletic Angeleños especially the youth.
Sports officer Rosever Pascua welcomed all the participants during the opening ceremonies and thanked Pamintuan for sustaining such valuable project for the youth. Pascua also expressed his optimism that the annual sporting event will continue in the years to come.
In affirmation, Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno expressed his vision of bringing back the glorious years of the city when it triumphed in various sports event in the region and the country. He also emphasized the importance of the ongoing construction of the Angeles City Sports Complex in providing an avenue to young Angeleños where they can advance their skills through the provision of conducive venue, facilities, and proper trainings.
Meanwhile, Palarong Panglunsod 2018 Men’s Volleyball Division Best Spiker, Ehrol Bergado of Barangay Pampang, expressed his gratitude to the local government for prioritizing sports development in the city.
“We [athletes] are grateful to have very good leaders who advocate the importance of sports for all Angeleños. It is our fervent prayer that the Palarong Panglunsod will continue in the years to come so as to help young athletes of our city to master their craft and become sports heroes nationally and globally,” said Bergado.
For his part, Pamintuan said that the soon completion and operation of the city’s sports complex will help the local government propel its vision of making Angeles as the birthplace of future sports champions.
Joining this year’s Palarong Panlungsod are contingents from Barangays Lourdes Sur, Agapito del Rosario, Virgen delos Remedios, Pampang, Sta. Trinidad, Ninoy Aquino, Capaya, Balibago, Pulung Maragul, Sta. Teresita, Mining, Sapalibutad, Lourdes NorthWest and Cutud. The delegations will be competing in the following sports events: Volleyball (Men and Women), Chess, and Table Tennis.
Also gracing the opening ceremonies were Councilor Dan Lacson and SK Federation Chairman Arnoah Prince Mandani who also led the ceremonial toss to officially start the competitions. The Angeles City’s Palarong Panlungsod will culminate in May 2019. (PR)