By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann emphasized that promoting sports to all members of society is a top priority, aligning with the commission’s mandate to foster a healthy and inclusive citizenry through physical wellness.
Bachmann, along with Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) – Western Visayas Regional Director Atty. Princess May Alkalde-Oral, led the opening ceremony of this year’s Indigenous Peoples (IP) Games Visayas leg.
The event, hosted by the Bago City government, kicked off on September 28 at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Barangay Balingasag.
“Narito po ang Philippine Sports Commission upang maging kaisa ninyo sa pangangalaga ng mga tradisyunal na larong inyong kinalakihan at upang ipakilala ito sa mga kabataan para sa patuloy na pag-unlad nito,” Bachmann said.
He added, “Ang mga larong ibinida sa programang ito ay salamin ng mayamang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.”
Bachmann also expressed gratitude to Mayor Yulo, Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, and the people of Negros Occidental for supporting the advocacy of promoting the rights of IP communities through sports.
The two-day event, which concluded Sunday, saw the participation of at least 300 IP members from 17 local government units (LGUs) across Negros Occidental, including Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, Don Salvador Benedicto, Himamaylan City, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, Kabankalan City, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City, Sipalay City, Talisay City, and host city Bago.
Mayor Yulo expressed his delight in Bago City being selected to host the Visayas leg of the IP Games.
“It’s an honor to welcome all our participants here in Bago City,” he said. “I am also happy that the national and local governments are giving importance to recognizing and supporting our IP communities.”
After the opening ceremony, participants competed in 10 indigenous games, including bangkaw, pana, fire-making, trompo, panit lubi, kadang, palo sebo, tumba patis, bayo gisig, and galing mais.
They also attended a forum discussing the importance of IP communities and the need to promote local culture, especially to the younger generations.
In addition, an IP photo contest highlighted moments from the two-day event, featuring entries from professional and amateur Negrense photographers.
Also present at the opening rites were NCIP-Negros Occidental Officer-In-Charge Melina Jeruta, Bago City Sports Coordinator Ignacio Denilla, Bago City Tourism Affairs personnel led by Tourism Operations Officer II Jose Marlo Gamo, Bago City Information Officer III Ace Balboa, and staff from the PSC and NCIP.
