Palarong Pambansa 2024 highighted the exceptional stories of determination and success of student-athletes in their respective sport.  

Asia Paraase, the 17-year-old runner from Lapu-Lapu City who bagged the first gold medal in the Palaro 2024, is a force to reckon with as she ran to a gold finish in the 3,000-meter run in the  Secondary Girls event on July 11, 2024, and again in the 1,500-meter run on July 14, 2024.

In the latest event, Paraase was able to score a personal best of four minutes and 50 seconds compared to her previous record of 4:56.

Paraase said that she is overjoyed at sweeping the golds in her events especially breaking her own personal record, but it also pains her to see her competitors cry at their defeat.

“Akong ma-feel pud ilang pain kay naningkamot man pud sila,” Paraase said in an interview with GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.  

The trackster said it is her dream to join the Philippine Air Force and that she will use her skills to be able to get there.

Meanwhile, a student from Davao Region (Region 11) clinched the gold in javelin throw at a distance of 38.89 meters.

Jessica Leah Losentes, from Cateel town in the Province of Davao Oriental may be petite, but with the kind of strength she possesses, Losentes is a titan, her coach said.

Roel Amabao-Ano, her coach, admitted that at the start of the game, Losentes was in jitters because of the intimidating height of other players.

However, Losentes has proven to be bigger than her fears.

“Daghan pod kaayo’g sacrifice nga ilang naagian, lalo na naigo sila sa baha; sa Provincial Meet, duha ka semana nga dili sila makalabang, katabok sa area, ang paningkamot sa local coach nila sa area,” Amabao-Ano said.

Losentes said she considers her success as the sweetest experience so far, because she was able to hurl all hindrances away.

“Nalipay ko diri-a sa Palaro nga naka-gold ko, first time ko nakaanhi. Nagpasalamat ko sa akong coach. Pangandoy nako nga makatapos," Losentes said.