Region 7 struggles on first day
DUMAGUETE CITY—The gymnastics squad of the University of the Visayas became the saving grace for the host region when it won silver medals in the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics yesterday.
Day 1 of the Palarong Pambansa has been laced with huge disappointments for Region 7 as the day ended without a single medal from the medal-rich athletics competition. It was only later in the day when news broke that Region 7 won’t be medal-less in the first day.
Renente Padilla Jr. won the silver in the MAG overall, while the girls team of Francin Ly Coyoca, Diane Sophia Navarro and Eunie Ginell Soronio won the silver in the WAG team competition.
Both events were won by title-favorites National Capital Region.
The competition in the secondary dvision was still ongoing at press time last night.
While the host region failed to snag a single medal on the first day of competitions in athletics, Western Visayas was on a roll, winning the first two gold medals in the national meet.
It was 15-year-old Jerrymae Rubias of Aklan, who stole the limelight early in the tournament as she won the first gold in the secondary girls javelin throw. What made this win extra special for Rubias was the fact that it is her first return to the Palaro after losing to Region 7’s Gia Bucag in 2010, when they were in Grade 6.
“It feels really good to beat her. I only finished second to her in Tarlac,” said Rubias, who suddenly became the pride of Tangalan National High School. Rubias is the only athlete from her school and will go home with the gold. Yesterday, the thrower received a call from her adviser and was told that she might be getting cash incentive from their municipal mayor.
Rubias is the second daughter of a farmer and said this incentive and the ones she will get from Department of Education, will go a long way to help her family and her training.
“Makakatulong ito ng malaki sa pamilya ko. Mabibili ko na rin ang sapatos na gusto ko,” said Rubias.
Luck was on Rubias’ side the whole time that the girl from Aklan threw 39.59 meters for a golden finish. “I was so surprised because it beat my personal best by more than six meters,” said Rubias.
Rubias’ luck was Bucag’s misfortune.
“Kami man tanan naka labay ug 35. Siya ra ang 39. Disappointed gyud kaayo ko. Dili pa gyud ko makadawat nga napildi ko kay dako kaayo akong expectation nga madaog ko ani nga event,” said Bucag of Balamban. She came in fifth.
Bucag said she could blame the javelin for being too slimy or that she failed to make a marker before the throw. But Bucag said she’d rather do her best to make up for in her next event.
Also falling short of expectations was Stephen Pekitpekit who failed to make podium in the elementary boys’ triple jump. Pektipekit, a Milo Little Olympics national champion said he lost strength on his right leg after exerting all of his efforts in the first jump.
Despite the lean first day, Physical Education in School Sports’ head Vivian Ginete said things will start to look better in the coming days. She also said she could not ask the kids for more.
“They are working really hard. And you can really see that,” said Ginete.