LAOAG CITY -- Chrisia Mae Tajarros of Eastern Visayas Region bagged the first gold medal at the 65th Palarong Pambansa on Monday, May 26, 2025, after ruling the secondary girls’ 3,000-meter run at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Memorial Stadium here.
She clocked 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds to beat Mary Mae Magbanua of Caraga (10:48.4) and Nathalei Faye Miguel of Ilocos Region (10:50.4).
“The training is worth it, my daily sacrifice to get the gold. I will not stop chasing my dream to compete abroad,” the 13-year-old Tajarros, a student at Leyte’s Tanauan National High School, said.
Eastern Visayas got another gold medal from Efosa John Paul Aguinaldo in the secondary boys’ long jump event.
Aguinaldo, 17, prevailed over MJ Lloyd Lora of Calabarzon and Jester Renz Robedizo of Central Luzon. The pride of Hindang Stand Alone Senior High School, also in Leyte, was tied with Lora at 6.90 meters but prevailed by virtue of his second-best jump of 6.83m as against his opponent’s 6.59m.
In the elementary boys’ long jump event, Northern Mindanao’s Khint Gimarangan of Valencia City, Bukidnon, won Mindanao’s first gold medal with a 5.50m effort, beating Dave Jhon Lumanao of Zamboanga Peninsula (5.49m) and Raymund Roy Carmona of Caraga (5.45m).
Calabarzon Region’s Sam Garcia, 12, of Tuy, Batangas, secured the gold medal in the elementary girls’ discus throw with a 33.97m heave.
Shanee Miep Guillarte of Caraga settled for silver at 30.96m, while Rhian Angela Encomienda of the National Capital Region (NCR) got the bronze with 30.90m.
The top three in the secondary girls’ discus throw event were Courtney Jewel Trangia of Bicol Region, Heart Duarte of NCR and Baby Gryll Alforo.
Meanwhile in weightlifting’s secondary boys’ 48kg class, Calabarzon’s Matthew Diaz -- nephew of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz -- won with a 73kg in snatch and 93kg clean & jerk, beating Zamboanga Peninsula’s Generosmel Cortez and NCR’s Rayney Joy Espina. / PNA