Bago City rules Gov. Bong Lacson’s Inter-LGU Arnis Provincial Championship

Following the successive tournaments of the Negros Occidental Provincial Government, the Provincial Sports Office continued to conduct more sports activities before this year ends.

Among the recently held events was the Governor Bong Lacson Inter-LGU Arnis Provincial Championship on December 3 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central. And the City of Bago was the overall champion of the tournament.

Seven teams from various LGUs participated in the inaugural arnis tournament in Negros Occidental. Bago City nabbed the champion title as the team earned the most gold medals. For the overall results, the team got 21 gold, nine silver, and 11 bronze medals.

Bacolod City, on the other hand, was the first runner-up with 11 gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze medals. La Carlota City followed Team Bacolod as the second runner-up with four gold, nine silver, and nine bronze medals. Earning the third runner-up ranking was Negros Occidental High School, Talisay City landed as the fourth runner-up, La Castellana got the fifth runner-up title, and Kabankalan City was the sixth runner-up.
A total of 200 participants from Bacolod City, Bago City, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Talisay City, and the Negros Occidental High School (representing the whole province of Negros Occidental) joined the competition. The divisions included Kids 10 years old and below (Boys and Girls), Kids 11-12 years old (Boys and Girls), Juniors 13-17 years old (Boys and Girls), and Seniors 18 years old and above (Men and Women). And the events were Likha Anyo, Padded Stick Labanan, and Team Sparring in Livestick.

For the Anyo competitions, the categories were Individual Single Weapon (Boys, Girls, Men, and Women), Individual Espada Y Daga (Boys, Girls, Men, and Women), and Team Open Weapon (Boys, Girls, and Men). For the Padded Stick Competition, there were three main categories – Kids (10 years old and below boys and girls, and 11-12 years old boys and girls), Juniors (Featherweight, extra lightweight, half lightweight, pin weight, and bantamweight – boys and girls), and the Seniors (60 kgs. and below Men, over 60 kgs. Men, 52 kgs. and below Women, and over 52 kgs. Women).

The competition started with an opening ceremony at 10 AM. Provincial Sports Office Head Mr. Anthony Carlo Agustin took the lead by delivering a short message and officially declaring the tournament open on behalf of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson.

World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) World Championship Gold Medalist Franz AJ Lirazan and International Technical Official Don Jose Campoy led the Oath of Sportsmanship and the Oath of Technical Officials, respectively.

The Governor Bong Lacson Inter-LGU Arnis Provincial Championship is part of the ABANSE NEGRENSE Grassroots Sports Development Programs. Led by Gov. Bong Lacson, the ABANSE NEGRENSE sports initiative aims to discover and develop young talents to excel in different sports.* (PSO)