Southeast Asian Games cycling champion Marella Salamat and steeplechaser Josh Buenavista are two of few national athletes who honed their skills in Batang Pinoy.
Over 6,000 athletes from 126 local government units will aim to follow their lead as the Luzon leg of the 2017 Batang Pinoy kicks off Sunday in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Athletes aged 15 years and below will compete in 18 sports, including Olympic disciplines archery, athletics, swimming, boxing, table tennis, taekwondo, badminton, volleyball and basketball.
Salamat captured the women’s individual time trial gold medal in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore while Buenavista got a silver medal in the 2016 Children of Asia Games in Russia.
Dumaguete City will host the Visayas leg on Nov. 10 to 16.