# 2023 Palarong Pambansa

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.

## Hosting
### Preparations

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.
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.
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.

### Host city

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. 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).
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) and 2012 (runner-up to Lingayen, Pangasinan).
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.
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.

## The Games
### Participating regions

Host Region
Regions :
| Code | Official name |
| 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 |

### Tiers

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.
| Cluster 1 Ilocos Region Cagayan Valley Central Luzon Cordillera Administrative Region Cluster 2 Calabarzon Mimaropa National Capital Region Bicol Region | Cluster 3 Western Visayas Central Visayas Eastern Visayas Zamboanga Peninsula Cluster 4 Northern Mindanao Davao Region SOCCSKSARGEN CARAGA BARMM |

### Billeting areas

Schools to be used as billeting quarters for 2023 Palarong Pambansa.
 Host Region
Billeting quarters for student-athletes :
| Region | Billeting Area | Location |
| Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | Industrial Valley ES Industrial Valley NHS | Industrial Valley Complex |
| Cordillera Administrative Region | Barangka ES Barangka NHS | Barangka |
| Cordillera Administrative Region | Tañong HS | Tañong |
| National Capital Region | Sto. Niño ES Sto. Niño NHS | Santo Niño |
| Region I - Ilocos Region | San Roque ES San Roque NHS | San Roque |
| Region II - Cagayan Valley | SSS Village ES SSS Village NHS | Concepcion Dos |
| Region III - Central Luzon | Parang ES | Parang |
| Region IV-A - Southern Tagalog - Calabarzon | Parang NHS | Parang |
| Region IV-B - Southern Tagalog - Mimaropa | Concepcion ES | Concepcion Uno |
| Region V - Bicol Region | Marikina HS | Concepcion Uno |
| Region VI - Western Visayas | Calumpang ES Calumpang NHS | Calumpang |
| Region VII - Central Visayas | Malanday ES | Malanday |
| Region VIII - Eastern Visayas | Marikina ES | Santa Elena |
| Region IX - Zamboanga Peninsula | H. Bautista ES | Concepcion Uno |
| Region X - Northern Mindanao | Nangka ES | Nangka |
| Region XI - Davao Region | Concepcion Integrated School | Concepcion Uno |
| Region XII - Soccsksargen | Fortune ES Fortune HS | Fortune |
| Region XIII - Caraga | 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 |
| Philippine Youth Convergence | Marist School | Marikina Heights |
| Philippine Youth Convergence | Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College | Marikina Heights |
| Philippine Youth Convergence | St. Scholastica's Academy | Marikina Heights |
| Technical Officiating Officials | Kapitan Moy ES | Santa Elena |
| Technical Officiating Officials | Marikina Heights HS | Marikina Heights |
| Technical Officiating Officials | Santa Elena HS | Santa Elena |
Notes: ES – Elementary School, HS – High School, NHS – National High School

### Sports

A total of 34 sports disciplines, including the para-games, demonstrations, and exhibition sports.
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.
| Demonstration Sports Dancesport Pencak Silat Exhibition Sports Cheerdancing Esports Obstacle course Traditional games Weightlifting Parasports Athletics Bocce Goalball Swimming | Regular Sports Archery Arnis Athletics Badminton Baseball Basketball Billiards Boxing Chess Football Futsal | Gymnastics Aerobics Artistic Rhythmic Sepak takraw Softball Swimming Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis Volleyball Wrestling Wushu |

### Venues

Playing venues to be used for 2023 Palarong Pambansa.
Regular Sports :
| Event | Venue | Location |
| Opening and Closing Ceremonies | Marikina Sports Center | Santa Elena |
| Archery | STI Goldtoe Archery Center | Barangka |
| Arnis | Marist HS Gymnasium | Marikina Heights |
| Athletics | Marikina Sports Center - Athletics Track & Field | Santa Elena |
| Athletics | Philsports Stadium | PhilSports Complex |
| Badminton | Trevi Sports Gymnasium | Concepcion Uno |
| Baseball | Marquinton Baseball Field | Santo Niño |
| Baseball | Santo Niño Baseball Field | Santo Niño |
| Basketball | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium [Finals] | Santa Elena |
| Basketball | Marist HS Gymnasium | Marikina Heights |
| Basketball | Marist ES Gymnasium | Marikina Heights |
| Basketball | PBL/Lambak Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Billiards | Sta. Lucia Bowling & Billiards Center | Sta. Lucia East Center |
| Boxing | Plaza De Los Alcades (Marikina City Hall Grounds) | Santa Elena |
| Chess | Marikina Convention Center | Concepcion Dos |
| Football | Ateneo Football Field | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Football | Marikina Sports Center - Football Field [Finals] | Santa Elena |
| Football | Marist Football Field | Marikina Heights |
| Futsal | Hacieda Heights Gymnasium | Concepcion Dos |
| Gymnastics | San Andres Gymnasium (Aerobic) | San Andres Sports Complex |
| Gymnastics | Rizal Memorial Coliseum (Artistic) | Rizal Mem. Sports Complex |
| Gymnastics | Ninoy Aquino Stadium (Rhythmic) | Rizal Mem. Sports Complex |
| Sepak takraw | Marikina HS Gymnasium | Concepcion Uno |
| Softball | Patio Rosario Open Field | Sumulong Highway |
| Swimming | Marikina Sports Center - Indoor Pool | Santa Elena |
| Table tennis | Jem Civic Center | Parang |
| Taekwondo | St. Scholasticas Academy Gymnasium | Marikina Heights |
| Tennis | Fin Asia Tennis Court | Sumulong Highway |
| Tennis | Rancho Estate 1 & 2 Multipurpose Hall | Concepcion Dos |
| Tennis | Suburbia East Tennis Center | Parang |
| Volleyball | Marikina Sports Center - Volleyball Area | Santa Elena |
| Volleyball | Marikit Multipurpose Gymnasium | Santo Niño |
| Volleyball | OLOPSC Gymnasium | Marikina Heights |
| Wrestling | Simeona Gymnasium | Concepcion Uno |
| Wushu | Vista Valley Gymnasium | Santo Niño |
Demonstration Sports :
| Event | Venue | Location |
| Dancesport | National Christian Life College Auditorium | Santo Niño |
| Pencak Silat | Parkland Estate Gymnasium | Malanday |
Special Para Events :
| Event | Venue | Location |
| Athletics | Marikina Sports Center - Athletics Track & Field | Santa Elena |
| Athletics | Philsports Stadium | PhilSports Complex |
| Bocce | Loyola Grand Villas Gymnasium | Loyola Grand Villas |
| Goalball | Loyola Grand Villas Gymnasium | Loyola Grand Villas |
| Swimming | Marikina Sports Center - Indoor Pool | Santa Elena |
Exhibition Sports :
| Event | Venue | Location |
| Cheerdancing | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Esports | Teatro Marikina | San Roque |
| Obstacle course | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Weightlifting | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Kadang-kadang (Indigenous game) | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Patintero (Indigenous game) | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
| Tumbang Preso (Indigenous game) | Marikina Sports Center Gymnasium | Santa Elena |
Source: 2023 Palarong Pambansa Playing Venues

### Calendar

| OC | Opening ceremony | ● | Event competitions | F/M | Finals/Medal events | CC | Closing ceremony |
| | July | July | July | July | August | August | August | August | August | Events |
| | 28 Sat | 29 Sat | 30 Sun | 31 Mon | 1 Tue | 2 Wed | 3 Thu | 4 Fri | 5 Sat | Events |
| Ceremonies | | | | OC | | | | | CC | — |
| Regular and Demonstration$^1$ Sports |||||||||||
| Archery | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Arnis | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Athletics | | | | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
| Badminton | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Baseball | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Basketball | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Billiards | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Boxing | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Chess | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Dancesport$^1$ | | | | | | ● | M | | | |
| Football | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Futsal | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Gymnastics: Aerobics | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Gymnastics: Artistic | | | | | ● | ● | M | M | | |
| Gymnastics: Rhythmic | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Pencak Silat$^1$ | | | | | ● | M | | | | |
| Sepak takraw | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Softball | | | | | ● | ● | ● | ● | M | |
| Swimming | | | | | M | M | M | M | | |
| Table tennis | | | | | ● | M | M | ● | M | |
| Taekwondo | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Tennis | | | | | ● | ● | M | ● | M | |
| Volleyball | | | | | ● | ● | M | M | | |
| Wrestling | | | | | | ● | ● | M | | |
| Wushu | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Parasports |||||||||||
| Athletics | | | | M | M | M | M | | | |
| Bocce | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Goalball | | | | | ● | ● | ● | M | | |
| Swimming | | | | | M | M | M | | | |
| Exhibition Sports |||||||||||
| Cheerdancing | F | | | | | | | | | |
| Esports | | ● | F | | | | | | | |
| Obstacle course | F | | | | | | | | |
| Weightlifting | F | | | | | | | | | |
| Indigenous Sports | ● | | | | | | | | | |
Source: 2023 Palarong Pambansa Schedule of Games

## Medal tally
### Regular games

    As of 5 August 2023, 11:59:59PM (UTC+8); Overall ranking
Host Region
| Rank | Region | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | National Capital Region (NCRAA)* | 85 | 74 | 55 | 214 |
| 2 | Western Visayas (VI-WVRAA) | 60 | 45 | 44 | 149 |
| 3 | Calabarzon (IV-A STCAA) | 52 | 52 | 57 | 161 |
| 4 | Central Luzon (III-CLRAA) | 28 | 33 | 46 | 107 |
| 5 | Central Visayas (VII-CVIRAA) | 26 | 18 | 35 | 79 |
| 6 | Davao Region (XI-DavRAA) | 21 | 18 | 27 | 66 |
| 7 | Northern Mindanao (X-NMRAA) | 19 | 20 | 33 | 72 |
| 8 | Soccsksargen (XII-SRAA) | 17 | 19 | 34 | 70 |
| 9 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CARAA) | 17 | 17 | 14 | 48 |
| 10 | Bicol Region (V-BRAA) | 13 | 15 | 22 | 50 |
| 11 | Ilocos Region (I-R1AA) | 9 | 11 | 23 | 43 |
| 12 | Cagayan Valley (II-CAVRAA) | 8 | 13 | 17 | 38 |
| 13 | Mimaropa (IV-B MRAA) | 6 | 8 | 13 | 27 |
| 14 | Eastern Visayas (VIII-EVRAA) | 5 | 17 | 15 | 37 |
| 15 | Caraga (CARAGA) | 4 | 11 | 20 | 35 |
| 16 | Zamboanga Peninsula (IX-ZPRAA) | 3 | 5 | 13 | 21 |
| 17 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMAA) | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Totals (17 entries) | Totals (17 entries) | 375 | 376 | 472 | 1,223 |

### Demonstration games

    As of 5 August 2023, 11:59:59PM (UTC+8); Overall ranking
Host Region
| Rank | Region | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Western Visayas (VI-WVRAA) | 13 | 8 | 2 | 23 |
| 2 | Central Visayas (VII-CVIRAA) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 | Soccsksargen (XII-SRAA) | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| 4 | Davao Region (XI-DavRAA) | 4 | 0 | 9 | 13 |
| 5 | Eastern Visayas (VIII-EVRAA) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Northern Mindanao (X-NMRAA) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | National Capital Region (NCRAA)* | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Zamboanga Peninsula (IX-ZPRAA) | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 9 | Bicol Region (V-BRAA) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Calabarzon (IV-A STCAA) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Caraga (CARAGA) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Cagayan Valley (II-CAVRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Central Luzon (III-CLRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CARAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ilocos Region (I-R1AA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Mimaropa (IV-B MRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals (17 entries) | Totals (17 entries) | 30 | 30 | 31 | 91 |

### Para games

    As of 5 August 2023, 11:59:59PM (UTC+8)
Host Region
| Rank | Region | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Western Visayas (VI-WVRAA) | 27 | 13 | 6 | 46 |
| 2 | Davao Region (XI-DavRAA) | 12 | 9 | 10 | 31 |
| 3 | Calabarzon (IV-A STCAA) | 9 | 4 | 9 | 22 |
| 4 | Bicol Region (V-BRAA) | 7 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| 5 | Central Luzon (III-CLRAA) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
| 6 | Zamboanga Peninsula (IX-ZPRAA) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Soccsksargen (XII-SRAA) | 4 | 8 | 2 | 14 |
| 8 | Central Visayas (VII-CVIRAA) | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| 9 | Ilocos Region (I-R1AA) | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 10 | National Capital Region (NCRAA)* | 2 | 9 | 8 | 19 |
| 11 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CARAA) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Caraga (CARAGA) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMAA) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Cagayan Valley (II-CAVRAA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 | Eastern Visayas (VIII-EVRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Mimaropa (IV-B MRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Northern Mindanao (X-NMRAA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals (17 entries) | Totals (17 entries) | 86 | 64 | 55 | 205 |

## Controversy

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.
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.

## Gallery

* Rhythmic and artistic gymnastics at Rizal Memorial Coliseum
* Farewell dance
* Clusters - delegations of 34 sports disciplines
* Trophies
* DepEd Regional Directors
* 2024 Palarong Pambansa host Cebu City
* Handover of Palarong Pambansa Flag
* Flag bearers after extinction of the Palarong Pambansa flame