By Aileen P. Refuerzo – Baguio PIO
Baguio City officials praised the grit and determination of the city’s contingent to the 2024 Batang Pinoy who copped a strong second place finish in the country’s major youth grassroots sports program played from Nov. 23-28 in Puerto Princesa City.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed pride in the delegates who he said displayed high morale and aggressiveness in their events.
“They were all fired up, inspired and motivated. They all wanted to win and they delivered,” the mayor who joined the athletes during the opening parade and program said.
Magalong said the athletes’ high spirits and passionate disposition outshone the fact that the city’s four-year first place winning streak had been broken this year.
“There were factors that may have contributed to our not winning first place this year but it does not matter after all a second-place showing is no mean feat. As long as we see the athletes giving their best and enjoying their events, we will be proud of them. That is what the games are about – sportsmanship and camaraderie,” the mayor said.
Baguio amassed 92 gold, 72 silver and 89 bronze medals next to first placer Pasig City with a 105-64-116 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.
City Sports Development Office Head Gaudencio Gonzales said Baguio largely improved its medal output this year compared to last year’s 82 gold, 52 silver and 59 bronze harvest.
“We are happy and proud of our athletes for giving a good fight until the last day of the competition. We also thank all those who provided assistance from the preparation up to the winding down of the city’s participation to this national event. Hindi naging madali pero kinaya natin!,” he said.
Baguio fielded a total of 625 athletes to the national youth sporting event this year. They saw action in 30 sports events namely archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball 3×3, beach volleyball, boxing, breaking, chess, cycling, dancesport, futsal, gymnastic, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, kurash, lawn tennis, muay thai, obstacle course, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.
