Palarong Bicol 2025 delivered a disappointing result for Catanduanes sports fans as its delegation slipped to 11th in the overall ranking among 13 schools divisions, compared to its 10th place showing last year.
It garnered fewer golds, silvers and bronzes in the regular games this time, with not one medal gained in the Para games. Overall, the delegation got 11 golds, 9 silvers and 30 bronzes, down from the 13-13-32 tally in the previous games.
In the elementary level, Bagwis athletes ranked 9th, three spots down from 6th in 2024, getting a total of 7 golds, 5 silvers and 11 bronzes. Previously, it earned 11 golds, 5 silvers and 18 bronzes.
Six of the elementary golds were contributed by girls: one from tennis singles and six from dance sports’ juvenile standard competitions in slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and a combination event.
The girls also won three bronzes: one from badminton singles and two from tennis singles.
On the other hand, the elementary boys produced four silver medals, all in swimming: 200M individual medley, 50M breaststroke, 100M breaststroke, and 4x50M freestyle relay. Their two bronzes came from sepak takraw junior (team) regu competition and 100M backstroke.
In the secondary level, the delegation retained its 13th spot, with 4 golds, 4 silvers and 19 bronzes, compared to the 2-8-14 tally in 2024.
The four golds were courtesy of three boxers who competed in the school boys and junior boys category while the other one was from 100M dash champion Jejireh Alcantara, who also won two silvers in the long jump and 200M dash.
The other two silvers came from boys’ billiards in the 8-ball event and secondary girls’ pencak silat regu event.
The boys also accounted for 10 bronzes: arnis featherwright (51-55 kgs.), boxing youth (46-48 kgs.), gymnastics (aero trio), sepak takraw inter regu and team competitions, table tennis singles, taekwondo bantamweight (under 51) and lightweight (under 59), tennis singles, pencak silat Tunggal and pencak silat tanding.
On the other hand, secondary girls brought nine bronzes from arnis extra lightweight (48-52 kgs.), badminton singles, taekwondo welterweight (under 59), sepak takraw regu, and three from pencak silat tanding.
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Just weeks after inaugurating the PAGCOR socio-civic center and the P44-M slaughterhouse, Mayor Samuel Laynes turned over a new Health Station in the hinterland barangay of Dugui San Isidro.
Joining him at the event were Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla, DILG Provincial Director Uldarico Razal Jr. and other DILG officials, department heads and barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Derio Sarmiento.
Funding for the much-needed facility at the often isolated mountain village came from the DILG-LGSF Support to Barangay Development Program with P5 million, along with P625,000 from the LGU’s 20% Development Fund.
Aside from this, the Laynes administration also set aside P2.2 million from the same fund for the improvement of the barangay plaza.
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THE WILL. When Irving retired, he and his wife, who was much younger, moved to Florida. Once they’d settled in, he decided it was time to make a will, so he made an appointment with a lawyer.
“It’s nice and straightforward,” he instructed the attorney. “Everything goes to Rachel-the house, the car, the pension, the life insurance-under the condition that she remarry within the year.”
“Fine, Mr, Patron,” said the lawyer. “But do you mind my asking why the condition?”
“Simple: I want at least one person to be sorry I died.”