Palosebo, where contestants climb a tall, greased bamboo pole and try to be the first to snare the prize or a marker on top. (Photo courtesy of DepEd Tayo-Agusan del Norte)
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will kick off the 2026 Indigenous Peoples (IP) Games with the Visayas leg in Iloilo City on Saturday.
For the first time, the two-day IP Games will feature participants from the Western Visayas Region, particularly Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras.
Participants will compete in lisik-lisik, kadang-kadang sa paya, kadang-kadang sa kawayan, mat weaving, pukol, fire making, bayo sa palay, trumpo, palosebo and turtle race.
Pitiw, patintero, ukbo, turnilyo and piol, and pana are demonstration events.
Last year’s edition, slated September, was canceled due to Typhoon Opong.
Aklan will be represented by the Ati and Akeanon Bukidnon, while the Ati and Iraynon Bukidnon groups will represent Antique.
The Ati, Halawodnon Bukidnon and Panay Bukidnon will represent Iloilo, while the Panay Bukidnon and Ati will represent Capiz.
Guimaras will field the Ati group.
“Usually, we only hold it at the provincial level with participating municipalities, but this time, it is the entire Panay Island, so the start of 2026 IP Games is really exciting,” PSC Commissioner Matthew Gaston, who oversees the IP Games program, said in a news release.
The PSC’s partners are the Iloilo City Sports Development Division, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Western and Central Visayas, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives of Western Visayas, Department of Education-Western Visayas, Iloilo City Health Office, Iloilo City Police Office and La Paz I Elementary School.
The PSC has been organizing the IP Games since 2018 following the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s call for the preservation of cultural heritage.
In 2024, the IP Games completed three legs in Ilocos Sur, Negros Occidental and General Santos City.
There will also be an IP Forum, a public discussion on the importance of IP communities and the need to promote local culture, including indigenous games, especially to the younger generation.
Meanwhile, the IP photo contest will showcase entries highlighting the Games. (PSC Media)
