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MANILA, May 25, 2025 (SDN) — Close to 500 Bangsamoro athletes on Saturday joined some 15,000 other young athletes in the Opening Ceremony of the 69th Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Northern Luzon.
The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal brought the 497 athletes to the Marcos country to compete in this year’s 2025 edition of the Palaro or National Games.
Iqbal, a member of the Parliament (MP) in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), and some of his delegation members arrived in Laoag City on May 23, thankful and happy for the grand welcome provided by the Balatong Integrated School (BIS).
“The way you welcomed us — with kindness, warmth, and openness — reminds us that the spirit of unity and service is alive and well in our communities. You make us feel not just welcome, but part of your family,” he said.
He also took advantage of the welcome program in his remarks to remind all the athletes — and coaches — who will compete in the said event to uphold sportsmannship at all times..
“To our athletes and coaches, compete not just to win, but to represent who we are as Bangsamoro—resilient, respectful, and proud,” the Minister added.
Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon graced the event at the BIS.
Comprising the athletics representatives of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are gold medalists and other sportsmen who distinguished themselves at the BARMM Athletics Association (BARMMAA) Regional Meet in February 2025 in Cotabato City.
Led by Iqbal, the delegation of the MBHTE, one of the 15 primary ministries of the BARMM, are officials, coaches, referees, chaperones, and others, totaling more than 700 people.
In a report on MBHTE’s Facebook page, it said the Palaro has officially kicked off on Saturday, May 24, with the colorful parade of student athletes and officials held at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City.
Participating in the country’s premier national athletics meet with primary and secondary levels competitors are around 15,000 student-athletes with the sporting event hosted by the province of Ilocos Norte headed by Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. formally opened the Palaro with delegates coming from 19 athletic associations, plus the BARMMAA.
“The opening ceremony was a grand display of Ilocano culture and heritage, with performances that highlighted the history and traditions of the region,” the MBHTE noted.
“Higit sa pagkapanalo, mas mahalagang matutunan ang disiplina, ang halaga ng pakikipagkaibigan, at ang mag-enjoy sa inyong paboritong sport — manalo man o matalo (Most of all, it is most important to learn about discipline, the importance of friendship, and enjoy your favorite sport — win or loss). Losers are those who fail to try. Winners are those who try, maybe fail, but try again. Don’t stop trying until you win and succeed,” Marcos exhorted the athletes.
Other dignitaries in attendance during the opening rites included Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Governor Marcos-Manotoc, Ilocos Norte 1st District Congressman Sandro Marcos, Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz, and many others. The Palaro runs from May 24 to May 31.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. — EDD K. USMAN (✓)