ILOILO — The Philippines is pinning its athletics hopes on 17-year-old Kian Laber of Dingle National High School (DNHS), whose record-shattering rise has earned him a frontline role in the country’s campaign in the 14th ASEAN School Games (ASG) in Brunei Darussalam from November 20 to 28, 2025.
Laber — now one of the most closely watched young sprinters in Philippine sports — burst onto the national radar after rewriting the Batang Pinoy 2025 400-meter record with a blazing 48.84 seconds, surpassing the previous 49.3-second mark.
His breakthrough run immediately placed him among the Philippines’ top medal prospects in Brunei.
DNHS honored its hometown hero with a spirited send-off ceremony filled with cheers, tributes, and messages of confidence.
“Your DNHS family stands with you, Kian — run with passion, carry our flag with pride, and make every Dinahisian proud,” school officials declared in a public post.
For Laber, the journey is fuelled by the people behind him.
“Every stride I take is not just for me, but for everyone who has supported me and believed in my dreams,” he said.
The ASG — Southeast Asia’s premier youth multi-sport event — will gather elite student-athletes from across the region for competitions in athletics, swimming, basketball, football, and more.
The Philippines aims to improve on its strong showing in the previous edition held in Vietnam, where Filipino athletes clinched several medals.
As he heads to Brunei, Laber carries not just national colors but the pride of an entire Ilonggo community eager to see him sprint toward history./PN
