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In a grand opening ceremony, the Palarong Pambansa 2025 kicks off with host Ilocos Norte showcasing its rich history and honoring the province’s sports legends
ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – Let the games begin!
The 2025 Palarong Pambansa officially opened in Ilocos Norte on Saturday, May 24, and the kickoff was nothing short of grand and memorable. This is the first time Ilocos Norte is hosting the Palaro in almost six decades — the last time being in 1968.
The opening ceremony took on the theme of “Nagkakaisang Kapuluan” (United Archipelago). The entire production paid homage to the host province Ilocos Norte’s rich history, while also boosting the competing student-athletes’ excitement to bring pride to their regions through their respective sports.
The performances began with an immersive reenactment of Biag ni Lam-ang, the Ilocano epic — involving hundreds of young students playing different roles.
Teachers were involved in the show, too. Several sections of the spectators’ area had been reserved for them, so they could supplement the students’ reenactment with live storytelling.
Building on Biag ni Lam-ang‘s impact, even more students took over the center of the field at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium to give all the delegates from outside Ilocos a glimpse of their history as a province, with a cinematic staging of the Basi Revolt — the 1807 Ilocano revolution.
The opening ceremony also served as a space to honor Ilocano sports legends. Young Ilocano students told the life story of the Philippines first-ever Olympic medalist Teofilo Yldefonso, known as the “Ilocano Shark.” Yldefonso is the man in the 2025 games’ official logo.
This part of the show charted his journey to becoming a swimmer, to eventually becoming known as the “Father of Philippine Swimming,” a moniker that made Yldefonso Ilocos’ pride and joy.
It was finally time for vocal powerhouse Angeline Quinto to take the stage — opening her set with “Ako ay Pilipino” to remind officials and athletes what it was that brought them to this competition in the first place: their Filipino roots.
Everything had all been about Filipino pride from there. Belting out a song to unite the competing regions was Chase Pagtacconan, who performed “United Archipelago.”
When Quinto returned to sing her last song, “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas,” she had one short but resounding message: “Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino (Long live Filipino athletes)!”
Capping off the festivities was P-pop boy group ALAMAT, whose members hail from different parts of the Philippines. Donning outfits that followed the color palette of the Philippine flag, ALAMAT gave Ilocos Norte a performance of “DAGUNDONG” to remember.
The 2025 Palarong Pambansa’s games will run from May 25 to 30, and will see over 15,000 athletes battle it out across 34 sports. – Rappler.com
