Baguio City, Philippines – The 801-strong delegation of Cordillera’s ‘Fearless Highlanders’ is all set for the upcoming 2025 Palarong Pambansa set in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, from May 24 to June 2.
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The Department of Education – Cordillera is confident that the athletes will achieve higher ranking this year than their 13th-place finish in the 2024 edition, especially with the P10 million budget secured for their training up to the competition proper.
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The funding, according to Chief of Education Support Services Division Georgina Ducayso, already covers transportation, meals, uniforms, training, including allowances, so athletes need not worry except for their personal purchases.
Of the 801 athletes, coaches, and other delegates, 374 are from Baguio City, 170 from Benguet, 68 from Ifugao, 51 from Abra, 46 from Apayao, 40 from Mt. Province, 38 from Tabuk City, and 14 from Kalinga.
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To ensure a flexible and well-rounded approach, some team sports had joint training sessions in Baguio City as part of their final preparations. Meanwhile, athletes in individual sports trained independently in their respective localities.
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The delegation arrived earlier to help student-athletes adjust to the warmer climate in Ilocos Norte, especially those from Baguio and Benguet.
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On Monday, May 19, an orientation was conducted in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte for coaches and team managers of ‘Fearless Highlanders’ concerning the designated playing venues and physical and mental preparation of athletes.
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