National Capital Region’s Titus Rafael Sia delivered another record-breaking performance at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium swimming pool on Thursday, capturing his fifth gold medal in the 65th Palarong Pambansa.
The 12-year-old from San Juan City set a new meet record in the elementary boys’ 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:31.39, surpassing the previous mark of 4:35.42 set by Davao’s Omar Dacera in 2009. Caraga’s Cosme Calejesan (4:41.36) and Francis Anunciado (4:54.25) took silver and bronze.
Sia, an incoming Grade 7 student at Xavier School, also broke records in the 200m and 100m backstroke and contributed to victories in the 400m freestyle and 4×50 medley relay alongside Reighlem Scziyo Salon, Findlay Jake Mackenzie, and Joshua Erik Chua.
In the girls’ division, Sophia Rose Garra of De La Salle Araneta University in Malabon bagged five golds—winning the 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke with new records, plus the 100m and 200m freestyle, and the 4×50 medley relay with teammates Adrianne Reese Tacuboy, Kaeley Vianna Cabalida, and Ceanna Gabrielle Mitra.
Central Luzon’s Lance Nicolas claimed gold in the secondary boys’ pole vault with a 3.80m mark, beating NCR’s Francis Allen Sillar (3.60m) and Northern Mindanao’s Jay Clarabal (3.30m). Other track winners included Kae Ross Ferrer (elementary boys’ 1500m), Angel Agapito (secondary girls’ high jump), Mary Jane Pagayon (secondary girls’ 1500m), and Joyce Panganoron (elementary girls’ 1500m).
In aero gymnastics at the Bacarra National Cultural Center, NCR swept the mixed category through Mab Ysabelle Angela Esguerra and Anton Eliezer Dungog (secondary), and Antonette Amante and Jerico Catilogo (elementary).
In wushu, Davao Region’s Ivy Ledama, Jacob Rey Agad, Abrianna Jed Payao, and Clarens Villacastin clinched golds. Other winners included Aron Dulos, Joelle Peñaflor, Xiviel Bantali, King McJones Moreno, and James Duag from various regions.
As of 2 p.m., NCR leads the medal tally with 71 golds, 50 silvers, and 27 bronzes. Calabarzon trails with 30-44-37, followed by Western Visayas (24-30-27), Northern Mindanao (21-17-33), and Davao Region (18-14-22).