BUTUAN CITY – An athlete from Eastern Visayas captured the first gold medal of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa after winning the secondary girls’ 3,000-meter event on Monday morning, May 25.
Chrisia Mae Tajarros, 14, successfully defended her title after also winning the same athletics event in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte. She expressed her joy and gratitude following the victory.
“I trained for nearly a year to prepare for this year’s Palaro,” Tajarros told reporters after her gold-medal win. She credited her success to rigorous preparation and the support of her team.
She also thanked the officials in the region, the members of her training team, school officials, and her coach for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
Fellow Eastern Visayas athlete Angel Lumacang bagged the silver medal, while Charlene Cos of the Davao Region secured the bronze in the same event, showcasing the depth of talent in Philippine athletics.
Aside from athletics, competitions in several other sports events also began on Monday, including baseball, chess, boxing, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and the Paragames. The Palarong Pambansa continues to be a platform for young athletes to excel and represent their regions.
