For almost two weeks this month, Verna Nava-Perez worked in her office at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in Lingayen, Pangasinan, starting 6 a.m. and left at midnight.
She never experienced this before as provincial board secretary. But this time, she had to adapt to it as chair of the Pangasinan government’s task force for the Palarong Pambansa, which the province hosted from May 6 to 12.
“It was tough, considering that you have to know everything. If there is a concern from whoever, you should know how to address it,” said Perez.
It was her responsibility to ensure that all of the more than 8,000 athletes and officials from all over the country are billeted properly and safely; that all of them are shuttled on time to and from the playing venues; and that the national games will run smoothly, among others.
What made her group’s work more difficult was that it covered a vast, seemingly unwieldy area. Aside from the NRSCC here, Palaro games were also held simultaneously in the towns of Binmaley and Calasiao and in the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos, at least 20 kilometers away from her office.
Regional athletic contingents were billeted in public schools in the towns of Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao and in the cities of San Carlos and Dagupan.
“A lot of work, really. I’m just thankful that everyone involved cooperated, especially my counterparts from the Department of Education (DepEd),” Perez said. The task force was composed of committees headed by provincial government department heads and officials.
Personal touch
Everyone in the provincial and national government agencies, such as the police and fire personnel, worked hard, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim said.
“The personal touch of everyone went into it. Everyone, from top to bottom, was hands-on. They gave their time and sacrificed everything,” he said.
Their hard work and sacrifice paid off.
At the end of Palaro on Saturday, Education Secretary Armin Luistro could not contain his profuse gratitude to Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and to the provincial government for hosting this year’s Palaro.
In his speech during the closing program, Luistro said there were three things that athletes and officials will always remember from this year’s Palaro.
First, he said, is the “most well-maintained” Olympic standard playing venues, especially the track and field oval and swimming pools. Second, is that the province showed that it can work together with other local governments. And third, is that this was the “cleanest and greenest Palaro, so far.”
“We thank you for caring for the environment,” Luistro said.
Compared to previous Palaro editions, he said there were more indoor games than outdoor games this year because of the provincial government’s suggestion that no outdoor games must be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to protect the athletes from the sun’s searing heat.
“This is a genuine show of concern to our athletes,” Luistro said.
Fourteen Palaro records were broken this year—11 in athletics and three in swimming.
Orpheus Velasco, provincial information officer, said aside from sending food to the 17 regional contingents every day, the provincial government also extended free medical assistance to athletes and officials who got sick and those who suffered sports-related injuries.
Luistro said this year’s Palaro was also the first time that technical officials experienced “five-star accommodation.” They were housed in airconditioned rooms below the bleachers of the NRSCC grandstands.
Calimlim and Perez said based on what they have heard from education officials and participants, there was no doubt that Pangasinan has become a benchmark in hosting Palaro in the future.
“We’re very much relieved that the pressure is gone. We are very proud that we are able to live up to their expectations and even exceeded it,” Calimlim said.