Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara expressed excitement over the inclusion of weightlifting in the 65th Palarong Pambansa from 24 to 31 May in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Angara, also a chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, encouraged students to participate in the demonstration sport in one of the biggest grassroots competitions in the elementary and secondary division.

Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz met Angara last week and even conducted a seminar for some DepEd officials about the basics of the sport.

“In the upcoming Palarong Pambansa, we will have weightlifting for the first time, with no less than Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz as our resource person. Our learner-athletes are lucky,” Angara said.

“It is your chance to try out these sports.”

Weightlifting has been a source of pride for Filipinos in major international events like the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

Aside from Diaz, a lot of young Filipinos are delivering on the international stage like Olympians Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said the inclusion of the sport in Palaro will be a major boost as it will enable the local government units to develop their athletes that will lead to a wider talent pool and, eventually, more success in the international arena.

“We have nothing to lose here and everything to gain. Now LGUs will have to help promote the sport that gave the very first Olympic gold medal for this country,” Puentevella said.

“With the help of DepEd, and given enough budget for the LGUs, believe me, we will see more gold medals for the Philippines in the Olympic Games.”

“Well, it was Hidilyn and I who have been working for this all these years. So I would like to thank Senator Sonny Angara for finally allowing weightlifting in Palaro.”

Aside from weightlifting, also appearing in this year’s Palaro are kickboxing as an exhibition sport as well as pencak silat and women’s pole vault as regular sports.