Few days remaining before the end of the Palarong Pambansa 2023, Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) team is now leading the medal tally in Marikina City.

With 26 gold, 19 silver, and 11 bronze medals in the regular sports as of August 3, Western Visayas eyes to top the annual biggest sporting event in the country.

The Region 6’s delegation in Para Games and Demo Sports also ruled the medal standing. In Demo Sports, they collected 5 gold medals while amassing 11 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals in Para Games.

Region 6 got more of its medals in the athletics events.

Jumping 1.88m, Tigbauan, Iloilo pride Franklin Catera, who is only 14 years old, won the silver medal in High Jump Secondary Boys

“He still has three years in the event. His potential is very high in high jump,” told by his coach Reymund Steil delos Reyes.

John Mark Dableo Pagdato and Ma. Jerlyn Ariego made Western Visayas including the Lemery, Iloilo community as they snagged medals in Marikina City.

Pagdato snatched the gold medal in the 400m run Elementary Boy while Ariego settled for a silver medal finish in the 400m run Elementary Girls.

Adding more gold medals for Western Visayas, Jazzybelle J. Mesterio ruled the 100m hurdle elementary girls. Mesterio is a native of Passi City. She is coached by Benedicto Prasas and Leone Tiosayco.

It was a golden throw for Erica Nicole Decena Salmeron from Iprog Elementary School in San Enrique, Iloilo as she outpowered other throwers in the country.
Salmeron threw 9.34 meters to dominate the Shot Put Elementary Girls category.

In team sports, Western Visayas, represented by Santa Barbara, Iloilo won the gold medal in the Sepak-Takraw Secondary Girls at the expense of Region 7, 2-0. The elementary boys bagged the silver medal while the secondary boys won the bronze medal. They are coached by Coach Francisco Salvaloza.

According to football enthusiast Rowena Sumagaysay Silvederio the team came from one village in Santa Barbara. “Halin lang na sila tanan sa isa ka Brgy. Taga Binangkilan. Kay halin pag lockdown sang pandemic, wala sila ka guwa sa Brgy. pero sige ila training. Ang kapitan nila si Glen Peneula was an ex palaro takraw player man,” she shared.

Meanwhile, defending champion National Capital Region (NCR) is at second with 22 gold, 26 silver and 20 bronze medals. Region 4-A follows at third place with 21 gold, 26 silver and 21 bronze medals.IMT Sports