Wushu, billiards, futsal in 2013 Palaro roster

WUSHU, billiards and futsal will be played as demonstration sports for the first time in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the three events were added alongside the regular events played in last year’s Palarong Pambansa to promote them as sports where Filipinos have a greater chance of excelling internationally.

The billiards competition will be opened for high school boys and the football-variant futsal for elementary girls.

Wushu will be disputed by high school students in both divisions.

The regular Palaro events include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, softball, swimming, taekwondo, chess, football, lawn tennis, table tennis, sepak takraw and boxing.

Luistro and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo signed last Friday the memorandum of understanding which laid down the duties and responsibilities of both parties in holding the Palarong Pambansa.

The annual national sports meet, which gathers the best elementary and high school athletes nationwide, will be held at Don Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium in Dumaguete City from April 21 to 27.

“The Palaro has many aspects, not just the games themselves. But what we in DepEd stress every Palaro is, you may forget everything else but not the athletes. Let’s make sure that the star in the Palaro is the athletes,” Luistro said.