What’s in store for the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2016?

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The province of Albay plans to have an entertaining opening ceremony for the 2016 Palarong Pambansa, where roughly 17,000 athletes from around the Philippines will compete in various sports events.

The opening festivities will begin at 2 pm and the main event, which will have the biggest spectacles, will start 4:30 pm at Bicol University. A total of 18 regions will be part of the parade.

“Iha-highlight namin dito yung kulturang Albay,” said Ramon Fiel Abcede, the regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region V. “Marami po kaming demonstration dito, cultural shows, at sa opening program natin, we will have to sing iyong bagong Palarong Pambansa hymn [by Francisco Bulalacao Jr] na kakantahin po ‘yan nang higit isang libong kabataan sa buong Bicol.”

(We will highlight Albay’s culture. There will be a lot of demonstrations, cultural shows, and in our opening, we will sing the new Palarong Pambansa hymn that will be sung by more than 1,000 kids from Bicol.)

Once the opening ceremonies get to Bicol U, there will be different highlights such as a confetti shower and parachuters jumping off helicopters. 

The main attraction, however, will be the finale of the torch relay which began on Friday, April 8. 

“Meron po kami nang torch relay na nag umpisa [nung Biyernes], at [sa Linggo] po ay matatapos ‘yan sa loob nang venue (We have a torch relay that started on Friday, and on Sunday, it will finish inside the venue),” said Abcede, who mentioned that the lighting of the torch at the university will officially mark the opening of this year’s Palaro.

“Maganda po at aasahan ko na ang ating panahon ay magiging maganda, at wala pong ulan para sa isang tagumpay [na opening ceremony],” he added.

(It will be nice and I am expecting that our weather will be good, and that there will be no rain for a successful opening ceremony.)

The opening ceremony will also showcase the different cultures of the Philippines and include the participation of other organizations of Team Albay.

Even athletes with disabilities will be participating. In fact, the event’s organizers said during the press conference that the friendship board will be led by a person with disability, ushered in by celebrities included in the opening ceremonies.

Among those expected to be present are PBA players Terrence Romeo and Roi Sumang, both from GlobalPort Batang Pier. 

Different government officials are also expected to attend, including DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, who will formally declare the games open. Palaro athlete Mzyra Velasco will lead the Oath of Sportsmanship and Amateurism. – Rappler.com