LAOAG CITY – National Capital Region's Arman Hernandez Jr. stole the spotlight with five gold medals in gymnastics just as records in athletics fell like dominoes on the second day of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa here Tuesday, May 27.

Despite starting the sport just a year ago, the eight-year-old Hernandez, who idolizes rising star Eldrew Yulo, showed great promise after snaring five golds and one bronze -- to become the Palaro's current bemedaled athlete -- in the elementary boys artistic gymnastics at the INNHS Gymnasium last Monday.

Hernandez, an incoming Grade 4 student at Don Carlos Village Elementary School, stamped his class and ruled the floor exercise, vault, and horizontal bar apparatuses on his way to the individual title. He was also part of the winning all-around team and settled for bronze in pommel horse.

“Training lang po araw-araw [and] iniaalay ko po ‘tong panalo ko kila mama’t papa,” said Hernandez, who once competed in last year’s Batang Pinoy where he took silver in floor. "Talagang pinaghandaan ko po 'to."

“Pangarap ko din pong mag-Olympics balang araw, and idol ko po si kuya Eldrew, nakakasama ko po sya sa training sa Intramuros,” added Hernandez, a proud son of an overseas worker in Canada.

Hernandez has only one team event left before going for a triumphant exit in the annual grassroots meet organized by the Department of Education and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.

His medal haul propelled NCR to the top of the overall standings with 16 golds, 10 silvers and three bronzes followed by CALABARZON (12-13-7) and Western Visayas (7-5-7) at second and third.

Northern Mindanao (4-9-11) and Cordillera (4-4-1) completed the current Top Five regions as of Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile in the secondary boys athletics, Central Visayas’ Jhul Ian Cañalita led the historic day as he shattered the 27-year mark of Davao Region's Cresencio Cabal (15:38.4) in 5000-meter run after crossing the line in 15 minutes and 16.31 seconds to clinch the crown. 

On the other hand, Western Visayas’ Mico Villaran timed in 14 seconds to rule the secondary boys 110-m hurdles and break NCR’s Patrick Unso effort of 14.68s in 2010.

Central Luzon’s Alfred Talplacido of 400m run (48.10s) and Western Visayas’ Josh Salcedo of discus throw (45.52m) also made some noise after winning in record fashion.

In elementary boys, NCR’s Cris Domingo reigned supreme in 400m dash by registering 54.29 seconds which surpassed Sahipa Bassal’s time of 54.30s in 1998 Bacolod.