As some 10,000 of the country's young athletes, coaches and trainers converge in Pangasinan for the Palarong Pambansa, the Department of Education said the ongoing reforms in basic education through the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K+12) program will have an impact on the selection and training of future Palaro athletes. "We are in the process of reviewing the Palaro events. Dapat magkaroon ng epekto ang K+12. We are talking with sports experts, with the Philippine Sports Commission," DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali on Saturday told GMA News Online in a phone iterview. Palaro athletes at the high school level will compete in 17 events while grade school athletes will see action in 16 events. Umali added that DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro wants the country to have a sports academy and a K+12 sports track so that Filipino youth gifted in sports will get ample and focused attention.
A “sports track” in the Department of Education K+12 curriculum is intended for students with special athletic aptitude.
Umali pointed out that the DepEd already has a special school for sports in each of the 17 regions, and that it also supports pending bills in Congress seeking the establishment of sports academies. He also said the talks with sports experts and officials will include an evaluation of the mix of the Palaro events so that the DepEd programs on athlete training will dovetail with the national sports agenda.
The 17 DepEd sports high schools that implement a sports-enhanced curriculum. This year, these schools received from DepEd an additional subsidy of P500,000 to augment their maintenance and operating expense budget. Earl Rosero
The Palarong Pambansa aims to:
1. Promote Physical Education and Sports as an integral part of the Basic Education Curriculum and as an affirmation to the schools’ commitment to the full development of the great potentials of the youth to become responsible and globally competitive citizens of our society; 2. Instill and imbibe among the pupils/students the spirit of discipline, teamwork, excellence, fair play, solidarity, sportsmanship and other values inherent in sports to build a Strong Republic; 3. Widen the base for talent identification, selection, recruitment, training and exposure of elementary and secondary pupils/students; 4. Provide a database for a valid and universal basis to further improve the school sports development program; and 5. Serve as a feeder to the National Sports Associations (NSA) for further training for international competitions.
The Palarong Pambansa, for years, has produced notable athletes in different fields who have gained popularity not only in the country but also in the international sports scene. Lydia de Vega and Dyan Castillejo, both former Palaro stalwarts, are some of the athletes that serve as an inspiration to many young hopefuls. Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro, FSC, said reiterated the Palaro is more than just a national sports competition. "While we expect that the Palaro will boost pride among our competing regional athletic associations, to the athletes, joining the competition has a deeper meaning," he said. "It could be the first step to reaching their dreams in the world of sports since it opens many doors of opportunities to develop their full potential," Luistro added. The 2012 Palaro showcases a new roster of talents that may soon follow the path taken by legendary Filipino athletes. Region XII takes pride on the achievements of its delegation – most especially boxer Jade Bornia and short-distance runner Rachiel Paterno (800 meters) in the elementary girls' division, and century-dash sprinter Romnick Nor in the high school level. Mae Barit (Region XI), Jomel Renolayan (Region V), Arielle Nichole Orella (NCR) and Mary Carmelli Garovillo (Region VII) are just some of the outstanding players that will showcase their skills in the week-long sporting event. All four athletes won medals when Dapitan City hosted last year's Palarong Pambansa.
— with Jon V. Perez/HS, GMA News. 
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