| 63rd Palarong Pambansa | |
| Size: | 300px |
| Host City: | Marikina, Metro Manila |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Motto: | "Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag." |
| Teams: | 17 regional athletic associations |
| Athletes: | 9,172 |
| Sports: | 34 |
| Events: | 1,573 |
| Opening: | July 29, 2023 |
| Closing: | August 5, 2023 |
| Stadium: | Marikina Sports Center |
| Opened By: | Philippine President Bongbong Marcos |
| Closed By: | Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte |
| Athlete Oath: | Alyssa Valdez |
| Torch Lighter: | Bea de Leon and Mark Barroca |
| Previous: | 2019 |
| Next: | 2024 |
| Ceremony Venue: | Marikina Sports Center |
The 2023 Palarong Pambansa, officially known as the 63rd Palarong Pambansa, also known as Palaro 2023 and Marikina 2023, was a multi-sport event held in Marikina, Metro Manila, from July 29 to August 5, 2023. Student-athletes from 17 athletic associations representing the 17 regions of the Philippines competed in different sporting events and disciplines.
Prior to that, the Games were originally scheduled in the city for 2020 but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Nearly three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation, the local government of Marikina, DepEd-NCR, and the Schools Division Office of Marikina are set to host the 63rd edition of Palarong Pambansa.[2]
An additional tier called the Pre-National Qualifying Meet will be introduced to lessen the number of delegations, shorten the duration of the event, and lower the expenses. Under the new tier, delegations will be clustered into four groups based on their geographical location. The top two regional delegations per cluster will then advance to the actual Palarong Pambansa event.
As such, the said new level will only feature team sports. Measurable sports will adopt the qualifying distance, time, and points set by the Palarong Pambansa. Other sports that do not apply qualifying standards in the selection of athletes and are not identified as team sports will advance directly to the Palarong Pambansa culminating competitions.
The modified competition format aims to prevent the disruption of classes and to observe minimum public health and safety protocols and other relevant policies and guidelines issued. Aside from student-athletes from the 17 regional athletic associations, Filipino athletes enrolled in recognized schools overseas will also be allowed to compete in individual sports under the banner of Philippine Schools Overseas.
On February 6 and April 24, Palarong Pambansa conducted a 5-day division and regional meets according to DepEd Memorandum No. 5, s. 2023, as recommended by the Palarong Pambansa Secretariat.[3]
On July 22, Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Sara Duterte led the inspection of playing venues at the Marikina Sports Center prior to the press launch. She was joined in the technical inspection by Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and Marikina Sports Center administrator Angelito Llabres. Duterte and Teodoro also signed the memorandum of agreement between DepEd and the Marikina government for the hosting of Palaro 2023.[4]
This is Marikina's first time hosting the Palarong Pambansa and the first time since the halt of the event due to the COVID 19 pandemic.[5] It is also NCR's fifth hosting since the 1966 Palarong Pambansa held in Quezon City, after 54 years. Marikina will be the fourth city in NCR to stage the Palarong Pambansa after Manila, Pasig, and Quezon City (1948 and 1960, 1964, and 1966 respectively).[6]
Marikina is part of the NCR contingent and Marikina Sports Center will serve as the main venue as well as the grand opening ceremony on July 31, two days after the Games' pre-event activities (such as meetings, refreshers, and training) started, and the closing ceremony. Marikina also bids the recent editions of Palarong Pambansa and all won as one of the candidate cities: 2014 (runner-up to Sta. Cruz, Laguna)[7] and 2012 (runner-up to Lingayen, Pangasinan).[8]
In history, Marikina was supposed to host the "31st" Palarong Pambansa in 1980 but was canceled. Marikina hosted the 1980 Palarong Bagong Lipunan as a substitute for the 1980 Palarong Pambansa.[9]
Marikina also previously hosted some major multi-sporting events: NCR Palaro, 2014 ASEAN School Games, 2011 UAAP Season 74, 2005 Southeast Asian Games, 1980 Palarong Bagong Lipunan, the first edition of 1973 Asian Athletics Championships and 1972 ISF Men's World Championship.
| Regions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Official name | Region colors |
| BARMAA | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | |
| CARAA | Cordillera Administrative Region | |
| NCRAA | National Capital Region | |
| I-R1AA | Region I / Ilocos Region | |
| II-CAVRAA | Region II / Cagayan Valley | |
| III-CLRAA | Region III / Central Luzon | |
| IV-A STCAA | Region IV-A / Southern Tagalog - Calabarzon | |
| IV-B MRAA | Region IV-B / Southern Tagalog - Mimaropa | |
| V-BRAA | Region V / Bicol Region | |
| VI-WVRAA | Region VI / Western Visayas | |
| VII-CVIRAA | Region VII / Central Visayas | |
| VIII-EVRAA | Region VIII / Eastern Visayas | |
| IX-ZPRAA | Region IX / Zamboanga Peninsula | |
| X-NMRAA | Region X / Northern Mindanao | |
| XI-DAVRAA | Region XI / Davao Region | |
| XII-SRAA | Region XII / Soccsksargen | |
| CARAGA | Region XIII / Caraga | |
A Pre-National Qualifying Meet was introduced to lessen the number of delegations, shorten the duration of the event, and lower the expenses. As such, the said new level will only feature team sports such as baseball, basketball, football, futsal, sepak takraw, football, and volleyball. Under the new tier, delegations will be clustered into four groups based on their geographical location.[10]
| valign=top width=35% | Cluster 1
Cluster 2 | valign=top width=35% | Cluster 3
Cluster 4 |
Schools to be used as billeting quarters for 2023 Palarong Pambansa.[11]
| Billeting quarters for student-athletes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Billeting Area | Location | ||
| Industrial Valley ES Industrial Valley NHS | Industrial Valley Complex | |||
| Barangka ES Barangka NHS | Barangka | |||
| Tañong HS | Tañong | |||
| Sto. Niño ES Sto. Niño NHS | Santo Niño | |||
| San Roque ES San Roque NHS | San Roque | |||
| SSS Village ES SSS Village NHS | Concepcion Dos | |||
| Parang ES | Parang | |||
| Parang NHS | Parang | |||
| Concepcion ES | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Marikina HS | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Calumpang ES Calumpang NHS | ||||
| Malanday ES | ||||
| Marikina ES | Santa Elena | |||
| H. Bautista ES | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Nangka ES | Nangka | |||
| Concepcion Integrated School | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Fortune ES Fortune HS | Fortune | |||
| Jesus Dela Peña NHS L. Victorino ES | Jesus Dela Peña | |||
| Billeting quarters for officials and committees | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officials | Billeting Area | Location | ||
| National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC) / National Technical Working Group (NTWG) | Regional Educational Learning Center (RELC) / National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) | Concepcion Uno | ||
| Philippine School Overseas (PSOs) Technical & Officials | Jehoshua Academy | Marikina Heights | ||
| Philippine Youth Convergence | Infant Jesus Academy | Concepcion Dos | ||
| Marist School | Marikina Heights | |||
| Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College | Marikina Heights | |||
| St. Scholastica's Academy | Marikina Heights | |||
| Technical Officiating Officials | Kapitan Moy ES | Santa Elena | ||
| Marikina Heights HS | Marikina Heights | |||
| Santa Elena HS | Santa Elena | |||
A total of 34 sports disciplines, including the para-games, demonstrations, and exhibition sports.[12]
It also features the Indigenous Filipino (Traditional) Games, also known as "Laro ng Lahi", the DepEd will conduct Kadang-kadang, Tumbang Preso, and Patintero on July 28, as part of 2023 Palarong Pambansa.[13]
Playing venues to be used for 2023 Palarong Pambansa.[14]
| Regular Sports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Venue | Location | ||
| Opening and Closing Ceremonies | Santa Elena | |||
| STI Goldtoe Archery Center | Barangka | |||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| PhilSports Complex | ||||
| Trevi Sports Gymnasium | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Santo Niño | ||||
| Santo Niño | ||||
| Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium [Finals] | Santa Elena | |||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| PBL/Lambak Gymnasium | Santa Elena | |||
| Sta. Lucia East Center | ||||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| Marikina Convention Center | Concepcion Dos | |||
| Ateneo de Manila University | ||||
| Marikina Sports Center - Football Field [Finals] | Santa Elena | |||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| Hacieda Heights Gymnasium | Concepcion Dos | |||
| San Andres Gymnasium (Aerobic) | San Andres Sports Complex | |||
| Rizal Memorial Coliseum (Artistic) | Rizal Mem. Sports Complex | |||
| Ninoy Aquino Stadium (Rhythmic) | Rizal Mem. Sports Complex | |||
| Concepcion Uno | ||||
| Patio Rosario Open Field | Sumulong Highway | |||
| Swimming | Santa Elena | |||
| Jem Civic Center | Parang | |||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| Fin Asia Tennis Court | Sumulong Highway | |||
| Rancho Estate 1 & 2 Multipurpose Hall | Concepcion Dos | |||
| Suburbia East Tennis Center | Parang | |||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| Marikit Multipurpose Gymnasium | Santo Niño | |||
| Marikina Heights | ||||
| Simeona Gymnasium | Concepcion Uno | |||
| Vista Valley Gymnasium | Santo Niño | |||
| Demonstration Sports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Venue | Location | ||
| National Christian Life College Auditorium | Santo Niño | |||
| Parkland Estate Gymnasium | Malanday | |||
| Special Para Events | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Venue | Location | ||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| PhilSports Complex | ||||
| Loyola Grand Villas | ||||
| Loyola Grand Villas | ||||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| Exhibition Sports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Venue | Location | ||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| San Roque | ||||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| Santa Elena | ||||
| Kadang-kadang (Indigenous game) | Santa Elena | |||
| Patintero (Indigenous game) | Santa Elena | |||
| Tumbang Preso (Indigenous game) | Santa Elena | |||
Source: 2023 Palarong Pambansa Playing Venues
| OC | Opening ceremony | ● | Event competitions | F/M | Finals/Medal events | CC | Closing ceremony |
| July | August | Events | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sat | 29 Sat | 30 Sun | 31 Mon | 1 Tue | 2 Wed | 3 Thu | 4 Fri | 5 Sat | ||||||||
| Ceremonies< | --28--> | OC< | --01--> | CC | ||||||||||||
| Regular and Demonstration1 Sports | ||||||||||||||||
| Archery< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| August | Arnis< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | |||||
| Athletics< | --28--> | M< | --01--> | M< | --02--> | M< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | M< | --05--> | M | ||||
| Badminton< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Baseball< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Basketball< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Billiards< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Boxing< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Chess< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Dancesport1< | --28--> | ●< | --03--> | M | ||||||||||||
| Football < | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Futsal< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Gymnastics: Aerobics< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Gymnastics: Artistic< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | M < | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Gymnastics: Rhythmic< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Pencak Silat1< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | M | ||||||||||||
| Sepak takraw< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Softball< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Swimming< | --28--> | M< | --02--> | M< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Table tennis< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | M< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Taekwondo< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Tennis< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | ●< | --05--> | M | ||||||
| Volleyball< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Wrestling< | --28--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||||
| Wushu< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Parasports | ||||||||||||||||
| Athletics< | --28--> | M< | --01--> | M< | --02--> | M< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | |||||||
| Bocce< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Goalball< | --28--> | ●< | --02--> | ●< | --03--> | ●< | --04--> | M | ||||||||
| Swimming< | --28--> | M< | --02--> | M< | --03--> | M< | --04--> | |||||||||
| Exhibition Sports | ||||||||||||||||
| Cheerdancing< | --28--> | F< | --29--> | |||||||||||||
| Esports< | --28--> | ●< | --30--> | F< | --31--> | |||||||||||
| Obstacle course< | --28--> | F< | --29--> | |||||||||||||
| Weightlifting< | --28--> | F< | --29--> | |||||||||||||
| Indigenous Sports< | --28--> | ●< | --29--> | |||||||||||||
Source: 2023 Palarong Pambansa Schedule of Games
During the closing ceremony at the Marikina Sports Center, a portion of the drone show erroneously depicted the Philippine flag with its blue and red strips interchanged, a variation used in a state of war. Following the ceremony, the supplier of the drones, DroneTechPH, issued a public apology, admitting that it was unable to test the drone sequence ahead of the ceremony, citing inclement weather.[15]
On August 6, 2023, the Marikina City Government issued a statement condemning the error and announcing their intention to pursue legal action against the company.[16]