Aklan crowned overall champion in weightlifting’s WVRAA debut

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Aklan clinched the overall championship in weightlifting’s historic first appearance as a regular sport at the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet (WVRAA), collecting an impressive 10-medal haul of six golds, three silvers, and one bronze.

The victory caps a rapid transformation for the province’s weightlifting program, which a year ago fielded only three athletes across five categories during the sport’s demonstration phase at the Palarong Pambansa.

In just one year, that early exposure evolved into a structured, competitive program now standing at the summit of regional sports.

Aklan’s medals were balanced across both divisions. In the boys division, the province won three golds and two silvers. In the girls division, Aklan captured three golds, one silver, and one bronze.

A turning point came in November 2025, when Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, alongside her husband and coach Julius Naranjo, visited Aklan for a week-long immersion.

Beyond inspiring young lifters, the couple conducted technical training for coaches and officiating workshops for teachers, laying the foundation for a sustainable weightlifting ecosystem in the province.

Despite lacking a fully equipped training facility, Aklan’s athletes found strength in community support. Powered Recovery, a local sports physical therapy center, became the team’s training ground in the lead-up to the competition.

Over the course of five days, the center provided free services to more than 300 WVRAA athletes, from physical assessments and recovery sessions to mental conditioning.

“This is a proud moment, especially since this is the first time weightlifting is included as a regular sport,” shared a member of the Aklan delegation. “The overwhelming support from the community made this victory even more meaningful.”

Aklan’s gold medalists were Jale Gabriel D. Caluba (60kg, Junior Boys), Alfrey Remetio (52kg, Junior Boys), AJ Ote (48kg, Junior Boys), Jose Enrique Cabales (56kg, Junior Boys), Rhea Joy Tabernilla (40kg, Junior Girls), Arian Martin (48kg, Junior Girls), and Abegail Andrade (44kg, Junior Girls).

Silver medalists were Jonavieve Dadivas (53kg, Junior Girls) and Gen Ezekiel Sajise (60kg, Junior Boys). Rica Lee Gabales (53kg, Junior Girls) took the bronze medal.

The coaching team was led by Shirly Lingacion and Roy Gio G. Divinagracia, with assistant coach Joela A. Aman.

Organizers said this year’s WVRAA marked a shift in the regional sports landscape, with increased participation from across Panay Island elevating the level of competition and offering athletes broader exposure and tougher challenges.

Diaz-Naranjo, who won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 55kg category, has been active in grassroots development programs across the country.

Her visit to Aklan is part of broader efforts to grow the sport at the provincial level and develop the next generation of Filipino lifters. (Photos: DepEd Aklan Sports Forum)