Sports

The NIRAAM 2026 medalist with Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya on Thursday*   The Bacolod City government distributed a total of P4,167,000 in incentives to athletes, coaches, and trainers at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) lobby on Thursday, March 26.The move underscores the city’s commitment to sports development and youth excellence, recognizing participants who represented Bacolod in the recently concluded NIRAAM 2026, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said Friday.Funding for the incentives was provided through the Department of Education’s Special Education Fund Program, which is supported by the city government.Of the 475 awardees, 188 athletes have qualified to advance to Palarong Pambansa 2026 in Agusan de...

The Negros Occidental provincial government on Wednesday, March 25, distributed cash incentives worth PHP1.35 million to Negrense student-athletes who won medals in the first Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) earlier this month. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the giving out of awards together with Schools Governance and Operations Division chief Romeo Sison Sr. of the Department of Education-Division of Negros Occidental at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City. "Your achievements reflect not only excellence in sports, but also the true spirit of Negrense pride," Lacson told the student-athletes. The 417 gold medalists each received PHP1,500 or a total of PHP625,500, while the 236 silver medalists got PHP1,000 or a total of PHP236,000. The 104 bronze medalists were gi...

Bacolod City continues to lead the 2026 Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) medal race, but Negros Occidental is steadily closing the gap as competitions intensify.As of 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, Bacolod remained on top of the overall standings with 123 gold, 72 silver, and 69 bronze medals for a total of 264.Negros Occidental follows closely behind with 96 gold, 112 silver, and 75 bronze medals, bringing its total to 283 medals, the highest overall medal count so far in the regional games.Dumaguete City ranks third with 20 gold, 32 silver, and 35 bronze medals, while Bayawan City placed fourth with 17 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze medals.Negros Oriental rounded out the top five with 15 gold, 25 silver, and 41 bronze medals.While Bacolod maintain...

Anastasia Avery Lim, a Grade 5 student of St. John’s Institute won five golds and a silver medal.* Bacolod City maintained a commanding lead in the Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) medal tally as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, with its athletes continuing to deliver strong performances across multiple events.Based on the latest tally, Bacolod City has collected 81 gold medals and 43 silver medals, keeping it firmly at first place overall in the regional games.Negros Occidental follows in second place with 41 gold and 70 silver medals, while Bayawan City ranks third with 15 gold and 12 silver medals.Negros Oriental placed fourth with 10 gold and 10 silver medals, while Dumaguete City rounds out the top five with seven gold and 12 sil...

Day to of the regional athletic meet.*NIRAAM photoBacolod City maintained its lead in the overall medal tally of the 2026 Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) as competitions continued at Panaad Park and Stadium on Tuesday, March 3.Based on the official medal tally, Bacolod City tops the overall standings with 35 gold medals, 20 silvers, and 13 bronzes for a total of 68 medals.Negros Occidental trails closely with 16 golds, 30 silvers, and 18 bronzes for a total of 64 medals, keeping the race competitive on Day 2 of the regional meet.In the elementary division, Negros Occidental leads with 10 gold medals and a total of 36 medals, while Bacolod City follows with 18 golds for a total of 29 medals.For the secondary division, Bacolod City dominates with...

Sophia Louie Begre-Lacson*Sixteen-year-old showjumping athlete Sophia Louie Begre-Lacson has been officially selected to represent the Philippines in the prestigious Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy (APRA), an elite development program under the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Regional Group VIII.The Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy is a one-year strategic talent identification and high-performance development program designed to bridge the gap between national competition and international elite sport.Only 12 riders in the region are selected to participate in the Academy, making Lacson’s inclusion a significant achievement for both her and Philippine equestrian sport.For Lacson, this opportunity carries even deeper meaning.Raised on Negros Island, Lacson's jo...

Former sports commissioner and current weightlifting president Monico Puentevella*Five leading figures who played a major part in shaping Philippine sports will be feted with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the San Miguel Corp. - Philippine Sportswriters Association 2025 Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on Feb. 16.The Lifetime Achievers are former sports commissioner and current weightlifting president Monico Puentevella, the 1991 Philippine Davis Cup team, boxing’s beloved Elorde family, officiating guru Romeo “Romy” Guevara, and Woman National Master Milagros “Mila” Emperado.Puentevella, 79, served as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (1996-2001) before becoming the head of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas. It was under his leadership that th...

Student-athletes aged 6 to 25 years old competed*The Bacolod City government officially launched the 1st Mayor Greg Gasataya Bacolod Invitational Karatedo Competition, bringing together more than 300 young karatekas from various schools and clubs across the country on Sunday, Dec. 21..Student-athletes aged 6 to 25 years old competed in kata and kumite events under novice and advanced categories at SM City Bacolod, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.Gasataya emphasized the importance of developing grassroots sports competitions to encourage greater youth participation, as the city prepares to host major national events, including the Batang Pinoy next year.“We’ve been doing all the preparations in line with hosting Batang Pinoy in October 2026,” Gas...