Sean Henry Narag, a talented pole vaulter, took home the first gold medal for the National Capital Region (NCR) at the 2023 Palarong Pambansa. Inspired by his idol Ernest John Obiena, Narag cleared a personal best of 3.90 meters at the rain-soaked Philsports track and field oval. Narag, who transitioned from being a hurdler just a year ago, credited his success to the tutelage of Obiena’s father, Emerson. The 17-year-old has dreams of competing in the Olympics someday.
In another event, 12-year-old Giethyl Daze Lubguban won the first gold medal for elementary girls’ high jump. Lubguban cleared 1.40m in her first attempt, impressing the crowd at the Philsports stands. She dedicated her victory to her parents, both of whom work hard to provide for her. Lubguban’s victory brought tears to her eyes, while her competitor Brieyanna Nichole Camacho finished with the silver medal.
The victories of Narag and Lubguban set the stage for the opening ceremony of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, graced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Games, organized by the Department of Education with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission, will feature competitions in 14 sports for elementary and 22 sports for the secondary division over the next five days. NCR has been the overall champion for the past 20 editions of the Palaro until 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a three-year hiatus.
