A year after missing the podium, Christy Mel Rose Siva of Davao Region stormed to victory in the secondary girls' 400-meter hurdles at the 2026 Palarong Pambansa, braving heavy rain to claim the gold medal.
The final, held on May 27 at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Governor D.O. Plaza Sports Complex in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, was a test of speed, balance, and nerve as rain poured over the track. But the 15-year-old from Davao Occidental remained unfazed, clearing every hurdle with composure to finish in one minute and 2.53 seconds.
Althea Margarette Sebumit of Eastern Visayas took silver in 1:03.74, while Chardoney de Dios of the National Academy of Sports earned bronze in 1:03.86.
“Medyo challenging po talaga yung final namin kasi kailangan po naming labanan ang ulan,” Siva told SunStar Davao, referring to the challenging conditions. The Grade 10 student from Sta. Maria Institute Inc. credited her calmness to the trust and support from teammates and coaches. “Wala nako nakulbaan kay daghan man nisalig sa ako,” she said.
Siva also leaned on her faith. “Nisalig ra gyud ko sa akong sarili ug sa guidance ni Papa God,” she added.
The victory capped years of hard work for the young hurdler, who started in badminton during elementary school before a teacher spotted her potential at an athletics tryout. “Nalingaw man kog tan-aw sa ila og dagan, mao to niapil ko,” she recalled. Coaches convinced her to focus on track and field, and she began competing at age nine.
Last year, Siva won silver in the girls’ 4x400-meter relay at the Palarong Pambansa in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. This year, after nearly a year of training, she returned stronger. “Yes po, kasi I trained almost one year for this season,” she said when asked if she expected gold.
Siva dedicated the medal to God, her family—father Romie D. Siva, a barangay tanod, and mother Mildred P. Siva, an overseas Filipino worker—as well as her coaches, teammates, and friends. “Worth it yung lahat ng support niyo sa akin,” she said.
Now a national champion, Siva aims to earn more medals in the 400-meter run and 400-meter hurdles, and eventually represent the Philippines. Her dream, she said, is simple: “Mas maging mahusay pa na manlalaro po in the future.”
