By Rachel Magday   NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines —The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has moved into the procurement stage for a major upgrade of its provincial sports complex, with at least P60 million already available for the first two phases of work ahead of the province’s hosting of the 2027 Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CAVRAA) Meet. Acting Assistant Provincial Engineer Franz Joseph P. Yoshiy gave the update during a recent meeting with Gov. Jose V. Gambito, saying the rehabilitation and improvement of the Nueva Vizcaya Sports Complex would be carried out in three phases with a total budget of P90 million. Of the initial funds, P20 million has been allocated for Phase 1 and P40 million for Phase 2. The first phase includes the concreting and elevation of the basketball and volleyball courts; repairs to damaged bleachers, the stage, visitors’ lounge and comfort rooms; and improvements to the complex’s perimeter fence. Yoshiy said the fence along the Department of Education office and the area near the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School would be raised. Other components include repairs to the main gate and water system, installation of a Nueva Vizcaya backdrop, rehabilitation of flagpoles and the construction of a fixed cauldron. Phase 2 involves the installation of a new rubberized oval track using a sandwich system, which Yoshiy said would be more durable than the existing surface and suitable for athletes wearing spike shoes. The proposed third phase, estimated at P30 million, covers silicone-polyurethane flooring as well as additional facilities and equipment for the basketball and volleyball courts. While funding for the final phase has yet to be secured, Gambito has directed the Provincial Engineering Office to include the project in a supplemental Annual Investment Program to facilitate its funding. The governor also ordered the enclosure of the bleacher area as part of the broader improvement program. Gambito said the rehabilitation program is aimed at ensuring that the Nueva Vizcaya Sports Complex meets the standards required for the 2027 CAVRAA Meet, which is expected to bring thousands of student-athletes, coaches and officials from across Cagayan Valley to the province.  

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government under Mayor Benjamin Magalong is gearing up to send 596 athletes to the Batang Pinoy 2026 National Championships in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, as the Summer Capital’s young competitors undergo training ahead of the December 12–18 games. Baguio’s delegation will consist of 756 members, including 596 athletes, 103 coaches, and 57 officials, who will represent Baguio in the national youth sports competition. The championships are expected to draw an estimated 36,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across the Philippines, with participants competing in 30 sporting events. Domingo Lobredo Jr., an athletic trainer, said Baguio’s athletes are currently training in various locations across the city, with sessions conducted at venues suited to their respective sports. Training sites include Melvin Jones and John Hay for golf, Loakan for cycling, Bayan Park for skateboarding, and Puyat Sports for bowling, among other facilities. The preparations aim to ready the city’s athletes for the weeklong national competition, which will bring together young sports talents from different parts of the country. (Allan Roy Canilang, PIO Baguio Intern/gabykeith)        

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong is targeting the completion of ongoing improvements to key sports and youth facilities at the Athletic Bowl before the end of the year, as he continues to inspect infrastructure projects in the Summer Capital The mayor, together with other officials, recently inspected the ongoing construction of the tennis court, track oval and Youth Convergence Center inside the facility to check the progress and quality of work. The mayor also visited offices at Baguio City Hall undergoing rehabilitation, including the City Human Resources Management Office and Special Services Division, as well as public restrooms and several roads where infrastructure work is ongoing. The inspections aim to monitor project implementation, identify construction challenges and determine the necessary actions to ensure that projects are completed properly and meet the needs of residents, he said. The mayor stressed the importance of ensuring that the city’s infrastructure projects are properly managed and deliver tangible benefits to the community.(Gaby B. Keith with CMO report)

Baguio racing phenom Iñigo Anton captured the inaugural Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Tamaraw One Make Race (OMR) championship after claiming two victories and a runner-up finish in the final round of the TGR Philippines season. The 22-year-old Filipino racer added the championship to his two previous TGR Super Sporting crowns, bringing his career haul to 20 national racing titles. Anton controlled the opening race after topping qualifying to secure pole position. He converted that advantage into victory, setting the pace for a three-race finale that tested his speed, consistency and ability to work through traffic. The reverse-grid format presented a tougher challenge in Race 2. Starting sixth, Anton overtook his rivals and climbed to second place at the finish, keeping his championship campaign firmly on track. He capped the round with another victory in Race 3. From fifth on the reverse grid, Anton charged through the field, reclaimed the lead and took the checkered flag to seal the inaugural Tamaraw OMR title. Oliver Aquino secured second place in the overall championship after a competitive season, while Raymond Cudala finished third. Both drivers challenged Anton throughout the campaign and contributed to closely contested battles at the front. Following his championship victory, Anton thanked team owner Cosco Oben and the Obengers Racing team through a social media post, recognizing their support throughout his TGR career. He also acknowledged his sponsors: Motul, Infiniteserv International, Yokohama Philippines, Alpinestars, Blue Coffee, the Automobile Association Philippines and Time Master Watches. The championship follows Anton’s recent international racing campaign and adds another achievement to a career spanning different race cars and motorsport disciplines. With the season complete, Anton now looks ahead to next year’s Toyota Gazoo Racing competition as he pursues further opportunities on local and international circuits. (Baguio-PIO)

MANILA, Philippines – Padel Pilipinas’ grassroots and junior athletes delivered strong performances at the Play Padel Greenfield Open 2026, held from October 22 to 25, securing two division titles and a third-place finish across the Men’s Gold, Men’s Bronze, and Women’s Bronze categories. Leading the result is grassroots junior 19-year-old Gio Manito, and partner Jack Cruz, who claimed the Men’s Gold title after overcoming strong competition in back-to-back three-set matches. With Talisay City, Cebu as his home court, Manito belongs to the first batch of athletes in Padel Pilipinas’ grassroots program in the city, making his championship win a notable milestone in his development as a young athlete. The pair mounted an impressive comeback in the semifinals, defeating defending champions Antoine Boutain and Juan Thomas De Carranza, 0-6, 6-1, 6-4. The victory marked a turnaround from their previous encounter in the Padel Pilipinas Open 2026 finals in August. They carried that fighting form into the final, rallying past French-Spanish duo Amaury Brucker and Enrique Marchán, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, to secure the championship. In the Men’s Bronze division, Taguig Padel Juniors 16-year-old Abdulracman Pangcoga and 18-year-old Hanie Omar claimed their first tournament title after a hard-fought final against Carlo Principe and Firas Abdulriham. The pair prevailed in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4), holding their nerve in the deciding-set tiebreak to clinch the win. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Lailah Al-Mosa and 12-year-old Althea Panarigan secured third place in the Women’s Bronze division with a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Notably, Padel Pilipinas’ junior athletes competed alongside adult players across multiple divisions, demonstrating their ability to participate in a competitive environment beyond junior-specific tournaments. These results underscore the continued development of the federation’s grassroots program, which aims to introduce the sport to more communities and create pathways for aspiring athletes to progress into competitive play. Since 2023, Padel Pilipinas has been conducting nationwide grassroots clinics. A key part of this effort is making padel more accessible through public playing facilities. In August 2025, in partnership with the local government of Talisay City, Padel Pilipinas opened the first padel courts in Cebu and the first public padel courts in the Philippines, where Manito was introduced to the sport. Recently, Padel Pilipinas conducted a three-day grassroots and coaches training series on the public padel courts of Ormoc City, Leyte, the home to the second public padel club in the Philippines.          

Around 500 local and international trail runners are expected to take on the challenging mountain routes of Baguio City and Itogon, Benguet, when The North Face Great Cordillera 100 returns on November 13–15, 2026, highlighting the region’s potential for adventure tourism and endurance sports. Race director Don Santillan said the three-day event will feature four categories: the 100-kilometer ultramarathon, 60-kilometer trail run, 21-kilometer race, and 10-kilometer race. Based on current registration figures, the 21-kilometer category has attracted 230 participants, while the 60-kilometer and 100-kilometer races have drawn 80 runners each. These three categories account for 390 registered participants, bringing organizers closer to their projected total of 500 runners The longest category, the 100-kilometer ultramarathon, will test participants’ endurance and technical skills as they navigate steep ascents, difficult descents, uneven terrain, and unpredictable mountain weather. The shorter categories will also give runners opportunities to experience competitive trail running across the Cordillera highlands. Beyond the competition, the event is expected to showcase the natural landscapes of Baguio and Itogon to participating athletes and their supporters, reinforcing the area’s appeal as a destination for outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. The return of the race also highlights the importance of protecting the mountain environment that makes trail running possible. Responsible outdoor recreation and the conservation of natural landscapes remain important considerations for organizers, participants, and host communities. (Baguio PIO)  

MANILA, Philippines – From the Asian Games courts in Nagoya to the championship courts of Malaysia, Padel Pilipinas player Tao Yee Tan continued her international campaign with a title-winning performance at the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Arla Protein Open Kuala Lumpur. Competing from October 9 to 11, Tan teamed up with Spanish player Eli Nogueras to capture the Pro Female division title. The pair powered through the semifinals with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spanish duo Claudia Manzanares and Claudia Oses, securing their place in the final. Carrying their form into the championship match, Tan and Nogueras delivered another straight-set performance, defeating Spanish player Elisabeth Estrada and Malaysian player Elysia Wan, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch the title. The victory marks another international title for Tan following her performance at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, where she represented the Philippines alongside fellow national team players Marian Capadocia, Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte in the women’s division. Also representing the Philippines last weekend at APPT Kuala Lumpur was Abad, who had recently made a historic run to the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games. Entering the women’s competition as the lowest-seeded pair, Abad and Malazarte defied expectations to finish among Asia’s top four, securing a fourth-place finish in padel’s Asian Games debut. Tan’s latest triumph adds to the growing list of international results for Filipino athletes competing on the padel circuit, reflecting the value of continued exposure to high-level competition. As padel continues to build its competitive presence in the Philippines, results like Tan’s title run provide further momentum for the country’s athletes as they take on increasingly competitive fields across the region.  

BAGUIO CITY, Philip[pines — The city government of Baguio congratulates Elizabeth Dangadang for winning the gold medal and successfully defending her Southeast Asian women’s long trail title at the 2026 Southeast Asian Trail Running Cup in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Resolution No. 702, Series of 2026 recognizes her achievement as a representative of the Philippines and securing a historic Philippine sweep of the women’s individual podium. Her achievement brings pride to Baguio City and the country while inspiring athletes through her endurance, skill, and determination. The commendation is presented by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, members of the City Council, and other city officials during the Flag Raising and Awarding Ceremony on September 28, 2026, at Baguio City Hall.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The city government of Baguio lauds Zyra Gados Bon-as for capturing the Professional World Championship Belt in the Women’s U49 kg Professional Muaythai Series 2026 in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Resolution No. 723, Series of 2026 recognizes her international achievements bringing honor and pride to Baguio City and the Philippines while inspiring athletes through her discipline, perseverance, and dedication. The commendation is presented by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, members of the City Council, and other city officials during the Flag Raising and Awarding Ceremony on September 28, 2026, at Baguio City Hall. 📷 AUB