The week-long 2026 Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet, the first for the country’s newest administration region, ends at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City on Friday afternoon (March 6, 2026). The regional games displayed the indomitable spirit of student-athletes, many of whom experienced challenges brought by the eruption of Mount Kanlaon and the onslaught of Typhoon Tino. (Screenshot from DepEd-NIR Facebook Live video)
BACOLOD CITY – Student-athletes who experienced challenges brought by the eruption of Mount Kanlaon and the onslaught of Typhoon Tino displayed indomitable spirit in the 2026 Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM), the first for the country’s newest administration region, formed only two years ago.
Hosted by this highly urbanized city, but also with playing venues in the neighboring cities of Talisay, Silay, Bago, and Victorias, the regional games drew 5,413 athletes and 1,232 coaches and chaperones from 12 school divisions under the Department of Education – Negros Island Region (DepEd-NIR).
“After all the efforts, hard work, determination, we have finally chosen our Visayan Vipers who will soon put up a good fight in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur,” DepEd-NIR Director Ramir Uytico said during the closing ceremony at the Panaad Park and Stadium on Friday afternoon.
On Friday night, the final medals tally showed Bacolod City emerging as the overall champion, with 165 gold, 102 silver, and 102 bronze medals.
Negros Occidental came in second, collecting 150 gold, 152 silver, and 102 bronze medals, while Negros Oriental placed third, with 33 gold, 39 silver, and 59 bronze medals.
The gold medalists will represent the NIR in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa from May 24 to 31.
One of the athletes from Negros Occidental, Reynalyn Sedenio, a Grade 12 student of La Castellana National School, became one of the most bemedalled in secondary girls’ athletics.
Sharing the hardships of the disasters that affected her hometown, she was emotional after winning the gold in the secondary girls’ 400-meter run on the first day of the competition.
“Gin-ubos gid ni Tino amon balay. Nadula-an pa ko gani isa ka hinablos. Amon na ang ginahimo ko nga inspiration and motivation (Typhoon Tino destroyed our house. I even lost a family member. These are my inspiration and motivation for what I do),” Sedenio said in an interview.
She paid tribute to her trainer, Nognog Bañares, whom she said was determined to find ways for his wards to continue training despite the circumstances in La Castellana, as well as her family for their support despite not having witnessed her triumphs in the 2026 NIRAAM.
Sedenio went on to win another gold in the 200m dash, silvers in the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay, and bronze in the 100m dash.
The athletics team of Canlaon City also went through obstacles during training, marked by the continued unrest of Mount Kanlaon.
“The athletes’ trainings were really affected. When there is class suspension, we also stop training. At least, we have a bronze medal,” coach Renilyn Edjan happily shared during an interview.
The team’s bronze medalist, Arianne Garsilva, who competed in secondary girls’ 100m hurdles, wished for the safety of the communities around the volcano, sharing that it is important to remain calm during volcanic activity, based on their experience.
Canlaon City placed last among the 12 delegations, bringing home two gold, four silver, and seven bronze medals.
La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental are among the most-affected local government units of the continued unrest of the volcano for almost two years now.
Both localities also experienced flashfloods brought by heavy rains during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in November last year.
The other participating school divisions were Dumaguete City, Bayawan City, Kabankalan City, Silay City, Bais City, Guihulngan City, Siquijor, and Tanjay City. (PNA)