The Pasig City local government earned the first runner-up spot for the overall best performing local government unit (LGU) award in the 2022 Batang Pinoy National Competition held in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur last Dec. 17 to 21.
The city’s sports delegation ranked second in the PSC’s overall medal tally. As of the final tally at 4 p.m. on Dec. 21, the city of Pasig won 22 gold medals, 12 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals, totaling 48.
The city ranks just below Baguio City (1st), and above Quezon City (3rd), Laguna (4th), and Iloilo City (5th).
Per sport, Pasigueno athletes won five gold medals, two silver, and one bronze for Archery; one gold, one silver, and one bronze for Arnis; two gold and one silver for Athletics; six gold, three silver, and five bronze for Chess; one gold for Dancesport; two gold, two silver, and one bronze for Karatedo; two gold and four bronze for Muay Thai; two gold and one silver for Swimming; and one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals for Taekwondo.
The table tennis team also won a gold medal. The other athletes managed to reach the quarter finals or the semi-finals in a field with around 100 competitors in each category.
The Badminton team reached the quarterfinals in a highly competitive field.
A special award – the Youngest Female Player Award – was given to a six year-old chess player belonging to the Pasig City delegation.
Last Dec. 13, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr., and other city officials attended a short send-off program for their Batang Pinoy delegation, composed of 100 young athletes who were deployed to Ilocos Sur, and 46 others who competed via online competitions.
The face-to-face competitions included archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cycling, table tennis, swimming, weightlifting, and the obstacle course race.
Among the competitions done virtually were arnis, dancesport, judo, karate, muay, pencak silat, taekwondo, and wushu.
Sotto expressed his gratitude to the young athletes, their coaches and parents, as well as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Magsisilbi itong inspirasyon para lalo pang palakasin ang sports program ng LGU (This will serve as an inspiration for us to further strengthen the local government’s sports program),” Sotto said in a social media post.
“Sa sports, mas masaya, mas malusog, mas disiplinado, at iwas bisyo (In sports, happier, healthier, more disciplined, and avoid or kept away from vices),” he added.
Jaworski also showed his pride for their city’s delegation on his social media page.
“Hindi niyo binigo ang ating lungsod at mga kababayan dahil pinatunayan ninyong talagang talentado at mahusay ang atletang Pasigueno (You did not let your city and fellow citizens down. You have proven that Pasigueno athletes are truly capable and talented),” Jaworski said.
Since its creation through Presidential Executive Order No.44 signed by former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on Dec. 2, 1998, Batang Pinoy has become an annual sports competition wherein young athletes aged 15 years old and below showcase their talents and skills.
As the PSC’s “baseline sports program,” Batang Pinoy aims to be an inclusive initiative that allows out-of-school youth (OSYs) and others in marginalized sectors to participate in sports activities.