GAP President Cynthia Carrion

THE 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastic Junior World Championships will greatly benefit from the new National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee formed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, according to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio.

UNPRECEDENTED cash incentives and top of the line mobile phones will be given to each of the 24 medalists—seven of them gold—in the recent Third Asian Youth Games in Manama.

“Bahrain was a success, we didn’t expect to get these many, the target was three golds and we got seven,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolenino during the special recognition to the members of Team Philippines on Monday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque City.

To the surprise of the medalists and their coaches and some parents, Philippine Sports Commission chairman John “Pató” Patrick announced that the PSC board—commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo, Walter Torres, Eduardo Jayco and Fritz Gaston—approved of a P500,000 cash incentive for the gold medalists, P300,000 for the silver medalists and P100,000 for the bronze medalists.

And there are more as Tolentino said that the POC would give P250,000 for the gold medalists, P150,000 for the silver winners and P75,000 for the bronze medalists. 

It was a surprise for the medalists who weren’t expected bonuses because the policy under the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act financially rewards elite or senior athletes for their medals earned overseas.

The announcement drew a big round of applause from the athletes, who became even more cheerful when Tolentino added another bonus from POC sponsor Sportsplus PH—an iPhone 17 Pro Max for each of the seven gold medalists and an iPhone 17 for the silver and bronze medalists.

Another defeaning round of applause for the presentation which translated into a celebration as the athletes, aged 18 and under, to the Bahrain edition surpassed the two gold medals won in the previous edition in Nanjing.

“They are all deserving to receive some incentives, and we really focused on them,” Gregorio said. “We all know that this is the right pathway, so we must hold on and focus until 2028.”

The Philippines wound up 12^th in the medals race on a 7-7-10 gold-silver-bronze tally, with China on top with a 63-49-35 tally, followed by Uzbekistan with 37-16-28 and Kazakhstan with 24-29-40. 

The gold medalists were Pencak Silat’s Kram Airam Carpio, MMA’s Charlie Ratcliff, Lyre Anie Ngina, Zeth Gabriel Bueno and the mixed team of Jan Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo, athletics’ Pi Wurden Wangkay and jiu-jitsu’s Isabella Butler, who missed the celebration as she flew directly to the US from Manama. 

The silver medalists were MMA’s Travis Ratcliff, athletics’ Naomi Cesar, Muay’s Jasmine Dagame and Jan Brix Ramiscal, taekwondo’s Kristen Aguila, swimming’s Jamesray Ajido and weightlifting’s Jhodie Peralta. 

The bronze winners were Crystal Carino and Nicole Tabucol of Teqball, Alexander Tagure Jr of MMA modern, Iyeshia Blair Bituin of Muay, Aeden Roffer Cereño of taekwondo, Alexandra Ann Diaz, Jhodie Peralta, and Jay-R Colonia of weightlifting, Leo Mhar Lobrido of boxing and Maria Alexandria Sarinas of jiu jitsu. 

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hailed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for putting his stamp of approval on the creation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) through Administrative Order No. 38.

SIARGAO -- Ana Mae Alipayo was born into a legacy, but she chose to carve her own path, one wave at a time.

Gen. Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao receives the plaque of appreciation for the successful hosting of Batang Pinoy from PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio and Commissioner Bong Coo

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The 2025 Batang Pinoy National Championships here is set to conclude dramatically, with defending champion Pasig City and the City of Manila locked in a tight race for the overall crown, with Baguio City a long shot.

As of 7 p.m. on Friday, Pasig held a slim lead with 38 gold, 25 silver, and 29 bronze medals in the partial and unofficial tally, while the capital city followed closely with 36 gold, 31 silver, and 25 bronze—for a total of 92 medals each.

Baguio trailed by 18 medals in the overall count with 29 gold, 21 silver, and 24 bronze (74 total), with final results in several sports still unaccounted, with the PSC continuing to verify and tabulate the official results. 

Fourth-placer Quezon City tallied 22 gold, 22 silver, and 26 bronze medals (70 total), while Santa Rosa City, Laguna, placed fifth with 21 gold, 18 silver, and 18 bronze (57 total).

PSC Chairman Patrick 'Pato' Gregorio reiterated that the champion LGU will receive P5 million to sustain the sports program, while the runner-up will receive P4 million and the third placer will receive P3 million, and the fourth and fifth placers will receive P2 million and P1 million, respectively.

Gregorio also announced that the City of Bacolod will host the Games next year.

On the final day of competition organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Davao City stunned Negros Occidental in the futsal boys’ 17U championship match at Mindanao Polytechnic College, 2–1.

Liam Hope Lumapas and Lleomer Polo each scored a goal in quick succession in the 19th minute of the second half to snatch the trophy for Davao City.

Zamboanga City chess prodigy IM Christian Gian Karlo Arca dominated the boys’ category held at Robinsons GenSan, bagging five gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.

Among the gold medals he won were the boys’ 960 rapid, standard, 960 blitz, ASEAN Rapid 16AC, and ASEAN Blitz categories.

By Edwin Rollon

GEN. SANTOS CITY — A thrilling photo finish looms in the race for the overall championship of the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Finals, with Team Manila, Baguio, and reigning titlist Pasig City locked in a tight battle as final results in several sports were put on hold to make way for Thursday’s closing ceremony at the Acharon Sports Complex here.