The biggest and grandest edition yet of the Batang Pinoy National Championships officially opened on Saturday, gathering 18,698 athletes from 188 local government units across the country.
The opening ceremony was highlighted by a torch relay featuring Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who proudly lit the cauldron to mark the start of the week-long competition.
Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the national youth games—open to athletes aged 12 to 17—feature 27 sports disciplines, including boxing, swimming, athletics, judo, volleyball, dancesport, and weightlifting. A total of 4,397 coaches are also taking part in the event.
Competitions officially kick off Sunday at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex with swimming and athletics leading the action.
Pasig City aims to defend its overall championship title after bagging 105 gold, 64 silver, and 116 bronze medals in last year’s meet. Meanwhile, host General Santos City hopes to improve from its fifth-place finish in Puerto Princesa City in 2024.
A total of ₱15 million in prizes will be awarded to the top-performing cities and municipalities: ₱5 million for first place, ₱4 million for second, ₱3 million for third, ₱2 million for fourth, and ₱1 million for fifth.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla delivered the keynote address, underscoring the importance of youth sports in nation-building. PSC Chair John Patrick Gregorio and General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao also expressed their support and pride in hosting the national event.
The Batang Pinoy National Championships continues to serve as a vital platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Filipino sports champions.