More than 13,000 delegates from 17 regions across the country gathered for the opening of the 2026 National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games, at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City on Saturday, May 9.
The opening ceremony featured cultural performances, a parade of delegates from over 600 private schools, and messages from national and local officials as Bacolod City and Negros Occidental hosted one of the country’s biggest student sporting events.
Present during the opening rites were Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr., Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, along with other government and sports officials.
PRISAA-NIR president Ryan Mark Molina, in a press conference earlier on Saturday, said that the Negros Island Region aims to finish among the top five in the PRISAA.
NIR ranked sixth in the senior division and fifth in the youth division in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, last year.
“We hope that our collegiate level will also be in the top five this year. We believe in the capability of our athletes to give their best,” Molina said.
The week-long PRISAA competition will feature sporting, academic, and cultural events.
In his message, Lacson welcomed the delegates to Negros Occidental and highlighted the role of PRISAA in developing young Filipino athletes not only in sports but also in leadership, discipline, and character.
He said sports continue to provide young people with opportunities to build confidence, strengthen values, and pursue their goals with discipline and perseverance.
Lacson also reaffirmed the provincial government’s support for youth development, education, wellness, and nation-building through sports programs.
The governor encouraged the athletes to compete with integrity and humility and invited the delegates to experience the hospitality and culture of Negros Occidental during their stay in the province.*
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