Sports: Covering Palarong Pambansa 2012

I was about to finish my piece last night when a few seconds, the brownout occurred. I really had a hard time but as the lights went back on, I immediately started a new one.

Yes, covering Palarong Pambansa is very hard task since I was the only one from Bacolod City. But with the presence of my old colleagues who usually cover the event, especially Lito Oredo of Bandera, I felt at home and at ease. I was thankful my billeting in Lingayen was not too far from the main venue which is the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center and other venues for some events. I had the chance to stay in one of the beach houses of 2nd district congressional office of Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil. Although we did not see each other upon my arrival, we met at dawn of Saturday before leaving for Manila and we had a short chat about Negros Occidental and other things. Rep. Bataoil was so accommodating that when I left my number at President Hotel where I was billeted, he immediately contacted me and introduced me to his overseer in the beach resort. He explained to me it lacks necessary beddings since it is only a picnic beach house. I told him it was okay since I also brought my personal beddings. Really a Boy Scout. But his overseer provided me beddings for two.

I preferred to stay at the PMR resort of Rep. Bataoil because it is near the main venue and other venues like baseball and softball. When you go out of the entrance, there’s the four diamonds for baseball and when you go farther, for softball and archery inside the Capitol Beach Front. So, it was really easy for me. It was my second time in the place to cover Palarong Pambansa. Seventeen years ago, I was also in Lingayen to cover the 1995 edition along with Nestor Padesio and the late Danny Llasos. It was easier for us to cover since we were staying at the back of the stadium. That place, however, was occupied by technical officials last week. During that time, we used to send our news stories through fax. I was then writing for Negros Daily Bulletin and reporting for Radyo Agong.

I did not stay with the group of officials and coaches from Negros Occidental since it was too far, about 15 kilometers ride and the rides are scarce when it is already dark. I too did not stay in the Western Visayas delegation billeting center in San Carlos City for the same reason. I opted to stay at Bataoil’s resort for my easy reporting and a nice walk every morning and dive at the beach. Hahaha!

When I was already on my way back to Manila, I received a text message from Rep. Bataoil asking me to write a draft for his privilege speech he will deliver on Monday, May 14, which I did and sent to his email ad.

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Chances of hosting by Negros Occidental of the 2013 Palarong Pambansa seems a done deal. During the speech of President Benigno Aquino III, he told the audience "see you next year in Bacolod City", which is out of his prepared speech. However, the final say will be from the Department of Education. Last year, Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. and DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Altamirano Luistro had a lenghty talk regarding the holding of 2013 Palaro. If I am not mistaken, the award was already given in principle to Negros Occidental. But again, we should convince other regional directors, including that of Cebu, to get their nod. Cebu is also bidding the Visayas schedule of hosting the Palaro before going back to Luzon and then Mindanao. It was the reason Laguna Governor George Ejercito was seen in Lingayen for three days because he is also lobbying to host the 2014 Palaro in Laguna. We took pictures with him and he told us his wife is from Silay City.*