John Aldrin Cullat & Ian Paolo Villacencio

ILOCOS NORTE—Rising athletes from across the nation rewrote history as they displayed record-breaking performances on the third day of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.


Region VI, Region III, and NCR ran to glory

Region VI-Western Visayas bet Mico Villaran sprinted to victory on the first day of athletics event, clocking 14 seconds in 110-meter hurdles, surpassing the 15-year record of 14.6 seconds set by National Capital Region (NCR) star, Patrick Unson.

“Sobrang saya po kasi ‘yung pinagpaguran namin ng coach ko, bumunga lahat tapos break pa ‘yung record. Sobrang saya po,” said Villaran.

The 17-year-old hurdler proved his dominance after the controversial campaign last 2024 Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City.

Villaran’s campaign got spoiled due to the controversial track oval at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) that fell short of the World Athletics standard distance, resulting in the nullification of all records set in track events.

On the other hand, Region III-Central Luzon’s Alfred Talplacido beat the previous 48.7 seconds set by Jomar Udtohan of NCR in 2014, clocking 48.10 seconds to clinch the gold medal in the secondary boy’s 400-meter race.

Defending champs’ NCR also rose on top as Cris Ivan Domingo set a new record of 54.29 seconds in the elementary boys’ 400-meter dash.

The Malabon youngster marked his PALARO debut on a high note as he sprinted past the 27-year record of 54.30 seconds set by Region X-Western Mindanao’s pride Sajipa Bassal in 1998.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Jhul Ian Cañalita gives Region VII-Central Visayas its first gold  in the secondary boys’ 5000-meter race with a new 15 minutes 16.31 seconds meet record.

The 2024 PALARO silver medalist Cañalita reset the nearly three-decade record set by Crescensio Cabal, who ran 15 minutes 38.4 seconds in the 1998 PALARO.

Region VI shines in throwing events

Josh Gabriel Salcedo from Region VI-Western Visayas shattered the meet record in secondary boys discus throw as he registered 45.52 meters

Antique’s pride, Salcedo, breaks the previous record of 42.86 meters set by Bacolod’s Airex Gabriel Villanueva in 2023 on Tuesday at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium.

NCR and 4A make splash

On the first day of swimming activities, Titus Rafael Sia of the National Capital Region (NCR) made headlines by breaking the previous meet record in the boys' 200-meter freestyle.  

Sia broke the previous record of 2:08.12 established by fellow NCR swimmer Rafael Barreto in 2013 with a time of 2:07.86 on Tuesday afternoon at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium pool.

Meanwhile, Reinielle Jan Miko Trinidad, a swimmer from Calabarzon, makes amends by winning the secondary boys' 50-meter butterfly and shattering the record set by last year's rival, TJ Amaro.

On the other hand,

NCR and CALABABRZON’s record-breakers—set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling week in the pool.As the third day of the annual sports event continues until June 2, more athletes aim to surpass previous records.