Western Visayas Athletes Break Palaro Records

LAOAG CITY — Western Visayas athletes delivered record-breaking performances in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, setting two new meet records and placing the region among the top contenders in this year’s national games.

Josh Gabriel Salcedo of Antique led the charge after breaking the secondary boys’ discus throw record with a 45.52-meter heave, eclipsing the 42.86-meter mark set by Airex Gabriel Villanueva in 2023.

Silver medalist Zachary Lawig of Baguio also outpaced the old record with a 43.92-meter throw, while Samar’s Rolando Tingzon placed third with 41.99 meters.

Bacolod native Mico Villaran added to the Western Visayas medal haul by rewriting the meet record in the secondary boys’ 110-meter hurdles.

Villaran clocked in at 14.00 seconds, smashing the 2010 record of 14.68 seconds held by National Capital Region’s Patrick Unso.

Tournament officials confirmed the record on Tuesday, May 27, a day after the race.

Villaran’s performance validated his controversial gold medal win last year in Cebu City, when his victory in the same event was questioned due to a disputed false start.

“I just wanted to prove that I deserved to win last year,” Villaran said. “This year, there’s no question.”

Meanwhile, Central Luzon’s Alfred Talplacido made headlines after setting a new record in the secondary boys’ 400-meter dash.

Talplacido clocked 48.10 seconds, breaking the 2014 record of 48.7 seconds set by Jomar Udtohan.

He edged out CALABARZON’s John Clinton Abetong and Kian Labar, who placed second and third with times of 48.61 and 48.92 seconds, respectively.

“I knew I had to give it my all,” Talplacido said. “This is something I’ve worked for every day.”

In the long-distance events, Central Visayas’ Jhul Ian Cañalita ruled the secondary boys’ 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:16.31.

Cañalita shattered a 27-year-old record of 15:38.4 set by Southern Mindanao’s Cresencio Cabal in 1998.

Cagayan Valley’s Elmer Dizon and Western Visayas’ Welmer Jeck Labrador also beat Cabal’s historic time, securing silver and bronze, respectively.