By Heidi Nicodemus
MANILA — Extending its Palarong Pambansa dynasty, the National Capital Region (NCR) reaffirmed its dominance after clinching its 19th consecutive overall championship title in the national competitions held at the Patin-ay Sports Complex in Prosperidad town over the weekend.
NCR athletes amassed an impressive 91 gold, 71 silver, and 71 bronze medals to top the weeklong 66th edition of the country’s premier multisport event hosted by the provincial government of Agusan del Sur.
The bulk of NCR’s medal haul came from the secondary division, which delivered a 73-51-50 gold-silver-bronze tally, while the elementary squad contributed 24-18-25.
Leading the charge was 18-year-old standout swimmer Patricia Mae Santor, who capped her final Palaro stint with a dominant sweep, collecting seven gold medals in all her events at the secondary level.
The NCR team built on its impressive 2025 campaign, where it set a record with 117 gold medals, along with 70 silver and 50 bronze.
Region IV-A (Calabarzon) secured second place with a 55-50-60 medal tally, while Region XI (Davao Region) edged Region VII (Central Visayas) for third with 34-32-34 against 31-36-45.
Host Region XIII (Caraga), led by Agusan del Sur, finished with 30 gold, 19 silver, and 48 bronze medals. Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr. had earlier pledged a ₱1 million reward for any athlete who could break a Philippine record, but no one managed to achieve the feat.
In a surprise appearance, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte attended one event at the Datu Lipus Makapandong-Governor Democrito O. Plaza Sports Complex on Saturday, signaling her city’s role as host of the next Palarong Pambansa.
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