Chrisia Mae Tajarros of Eastern Visayas (right) rules the secondary girls’ 3000-meter run, the first event in the 65th Palarong Pambansa athletics competition, at Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on Monday (May 26, 2025). She clocked 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
Chrisia Mae Tajarros of the Eastern Visayas Region clinched the first gold medal of the 65th Palarong Pambansa on Monday, dominating the secondary girls’ 3000-meter run held at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Memorial Stadium.
Tajarros, a 13-year-old student from Tanauan National High School in Leyte, crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds. She outran Mary Mae Magbanua of Caraga (10:48.4) and Nathalei Faye Miguel of the Ilocos Region (10:50.4).
“All the training and daily sacrifices were worth it. I won’t stop pursuing my dream to compete internationally,” Tajarros said after her victory.
Eastern Visayas celebrated another gold as Efosa John Paul Aguinaldo topped the secondary boys’ long jump. The 17-year-old from Hindang Stand Alone Senior High School edged MJ Lloyd Lora of Calabarzon and Jester Renz Robedizo of Central Luzon. Aguinaldo and Lora both registered 6.90 meters, but Aguinaldo secured the win with his second-best jump of 6.83 meters, ahead of Lora’s 6.59 meters.
In the elementary boys’ long jump, Northern Mindanao earned its first gold medal through Khint Gimarangan of Valencia City, Bukidnon. Gimarangan leapt 5.50 meters to narrowly defeat Dave Jhon Lumanao of Zamboanga Peninsula (5.49m) and Raymund Roy Carmona of Caraga (5.45m).
Meanwhile, Calabarzon’s Sam Garcia, a 12-year-old from Tuy, Batangas, emerged victorious in the elementary girls’ discus throw with a 33.97-meter effort. Caraga’s Shanee Miep Guillarte took silver (30.96m), while Rhian Angela Encomienda of the National Capital Region (NCR) claimed bronze (30.90m).
In the secondary girls’ discus throw, the top three finishers were Courtney Jewel Trangia of Bicol Region, Heart Duarte of NCR, and Baby Gryll Alforo.
Weightlifting also saw action, with Calabarzon’s Matthew Diaz—nephew of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz—securing the gold in the secondary boys’ 48kg category. He lifted 73 kilograms in the snatch and 93 kilograms in the clean and jerk to outclass Generosmel Cortez of Zamboanga Peninsula and Rayney Joy Espina of NCR.