Capitol Awards PHP1.3M to Palaro 2025 Medalists

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government awarded PHP1.3 million in cash incentives to Negrense medalists who competed in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the distribution of cash incentives to medal-winning athletes from the province who were part of the Western Visayas delegation during a ceremony held Thursday morning at the provincial capitol.

Gold medalists each received PHP10,000, silver medalists received PHP7,000, and bronze medalists were given PHP4,000.

There were 49 gold medalists, including the champion Secondary Boys Baseball team, each receiving PHP10,000.

The total incentive for gold medalists amounted to PHP490,000, while PHP518,000 went to silver medalists and PHP336,000 to bronze medalists.

Record breakers received additional incentives, including Miko Villaran of Romanito Maravilla National High School in Bacolod City, who won gold in the 400-meter and 110-meter hurdles, a silver and bronze in the 4×400-meter relay, and set two new records.

Christine Rose Toquero of Binaguiohan Elementary School in Escalante City also earned a gold medal in the javelin throw.

Other gold medalists included Maxene Hayley Uy of Lamblight International School, who won gold in the 4×100-meter and 4×50-meter freestyle relays in swimming.

Aehro Jeush Tibus of Southland College bagged gold in the 50-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter freestyle relay, plus a silver in the 4×100-meter medley relay.

Also awarded were the Secondary Boys Baseball Team of Negros Occidental and Nxy Aezryl Gonzales and Mckenzi Pelimiano in elementary dancesport.

Joining Lacson in distributing the incentives were DepEd–Negros Island Region Director Ramir Uytico and DepEd Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Anthony Liobet.

Negros Occidental athletes led the Western Visayas medal tally, securing 18 of the region’s 44 gold medals in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.

Western Visayas placed third overall in the national sports event, which concluded May 31 in Ilocos Norte.

The National Capital Region emerged as overall champion, with Calabarzon finishing second.

The Western Visayas delegation, composed of athletes from Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras, earned a total of 44 gold, 52 silver, and 58 bronze medals.