BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The city government under Mayor Benjamin Magalong is sending a 470-strong delegation of athletes and coaches to the Batang Pinoy 2025 competitions in General Santos City seeking to wrestle first place from its rival, the City of Pasig team, last year’s champions.

Paul Rillorta, Sports Administration Officer III, said Team Baguio is very determined in their training and preparations to win this year’s overall championship crown.

He said that their venue and accommodations are properly accounted for, sending staff ahead of time in order to ensure that special uniforms and daily allowances were also provided in support of the athletes participating in Mindanao.

Baguio  has had a firm history of producing strong young athletes, Rillorta said, adding that in the previous decade, the Summer Capital has always proven itself a consistent contender and champion of the annual sports competition.
The city’s most recent string of victories was the four-peat championship dominance from 2018 to 2023 with the 2020 and 2021 Batang Pinoy competitions being cancelled due to the pandemic.

“Sa tingin namin lalaban ‘yang mga atleta natin– lalaban ‘yan. Kasi, kinuha naman natin, talagang (the) best of the best. Hopefully, makuha natin ‘yung crown uli. Pero, ‘yung importante naman d’yan is, lumaban sila, nag-enjoy sila.” Rillorta said.

Rillorta pointed out that Baguio has always been especially dominant when it came to combative sports like Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Boxing, and is optimistic that they will also do very well in the other sporting events of the prestigious annual competition.

The games  began October 24 while the official opening took place on October 25 and will end on October 30, highlighting a whole week of sportsmanship and competitive spirit, he said. – Kemm Olarte/SLU PIO Intern/gabykeith