PALARO 2020: The Rise of the New Champions

by Arianne Santos and Nina Isabella Zacarias

The time has come, and the long-awaited has finally arrived as the students welcome the start of February with the annual sports fest event, PALARO, held exclusively on the grounds of Divine Light Academy. The PALARO, held yearly, is an event showcasing both the physical and mental capabilities of students through various Filipino street games, sports, and board games. This event is celebrated in honor of the Sto. Niño, and serving as this year’s theme is ‘#ShineAsOne’.

In line with the exciting games done during the week of this year’s PALARO, is the pageant called Mr. & Ms. PALARO, open to the Junior High School Muses and Escorts. The competition was held in two days, with a number of segments to adequately meet the rightful winners of the titles, with Mr. Manuel Varias (Grade 10) and Ms. Nayely Sablaon (Grade 12) as the official Mr. and Ms. PALARO 2020.

Muses and Escorts of High School with the Winners | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

The Muses and Escorts for Mr. and Ms. PALARO 2020 | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

January 27, 2020 – The day that marked the official start of the PALARO 2020, as children from the Primary Level (Grades 1-3), along with their teachers, parents, and guardians, started the three-day event. Wearing colored shirts with cartoon characters as a representation of their teams, the students played various games with the guidance of their advisers. They also presented their well-prepared dance numbers during the opening and closing program that brought delight to the audience, young and old alike. To make it more thrilling, parents and guardians were also invited to participate in the games exclusively to be played by them!

The First Day of the Primary Level, Marked as the First Official Day of PALARO | Photo by Vinni Alvarado

The Primary Level (Grades 1-3) in their Color Coded Cartoon Shirts | Photo by Vinni Alvarado

January 30, 2020 – After the Primary Level, the Preschool Level (Nursery, Kinder, Senior Kinder) welcomed the end of January happily as the month’s end signals the start of their PALARO 2020. The opening program was filled with rip-roaring cheers, along with flashy dance numbers that the students prepared with their teachers. It was then continued with the start of their event’s highlight—the games. Along with their parents and guardians, the children played the games with excitement beyond words. Not only did the students enjoy the event, but also the parents with proud eyes adoring their children as they play with happiness. By the near end of the Preschool PALARO comes the remarkable; during the obstacle relay, the game which includes the participation of the guardians, the last player of one team was able to maul down the legendary garter. This is a first after 25 years, the obstacle relay garter’s frame broke down as the father raced back to finish the relay.

Preschool Students' Parents Playing Tug-of-War | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

February 3, 2020 – The long-awaited day gifted the students of the Intermediate and High School levels with excitement as their PALARO finally came to a start, with Mr. Erbert M. Draculan, as this year’s commissioner, marking his reign as a PALARO Commissioner for two straight years.

8 - Aristotle Presenting their Cheer On-stage | Photo by DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

PALARO Annual Parade (Junior High School) | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official Facebook Page

Wearing well-designed jerseys chosen to each team’s preference, the PALARO 2020 started with the parade, followed by energetic cheers coming from different teams alongside their advisers. It was then followed by the traditional ‘lighting of the torch’ done by chosen athletes, hanging of the banners, and an oath led by one of our

school’s pride, a regional badminton competitor, Ms. Shania Mae Maquinta.

The Hanging of the Banners for PALARO 2020 | Photo by DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

Lighting of the Torch by the School's Athletes | Photo by DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

Finally, it was time to start the games. This PALARO was unlike any other; it now had more—a 7-day event packed with various games, including the famous ball games (Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Badminton), board games (Scrabble, Boggle, Chess, Game of the Generals), and the Palarong Pinoy, a combination of traditional Filipino games. One team per level emerged victorious in chosen games, some as individuals and some as a team. To honor the players that stood out in the well-known ball games, specifically Basketball and Volleyball, the chosen players were given awards and titles (Mythical 6, Mythical 5) as to recognize their outstanding abilities.

A Shot Taken from a Grade 10 Basketball Game | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

Grade 5's Snatch-the-Ball 'Palarong Pinoy' Game | Photo from DLA SHN - Senior High Network Official FB Page

Despite the week of PALARO 2020 coming to an end, the Divinians surely had packed memories and experiences about teamwork, camaraderie, and friendship, letting the event live up to its name as ‘one of the most awaited events in DLA’.

As per what the late Kobe Bryant once said, “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – are all an opportunity for me to rise,” and for every student who became an athlete in a week especially for the event, may you think of PALARO as an opportunity and a challenge for each and everyone to rise above all.