GENERAL SANTOS City – Western Visayas’ dominance in the Batang Pinoy 2025 National Championships reached new heights as Iloilo’s Kian Labar blazed through the track with back-to-back golds — including a record-breaking run — while Sta. Barbara’s Thirdy Mana-ay and Bacolod City’s Psalm Pampag added more golds to the region’s swelling medal haul.
The 16-year-old Labar, pride of Dingle, Iloilo, stunned the field by resetting the boys’ 400-meter dash record at 48.84 seconds, eclipsing the previous 49.3-second mark, before sprinting to another gold in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.39 seconds.
“This is just the beginning,” said Labar, dedicating his victories to his coaches, family, and the people of Dingle. His double-gold performance sealed his status as one of the country’s most promising young sprinters.
Meanwhile, cyclist Thirdy Mana-ay of Sta. Barbara delivered Iloilo’s third gold after ruling the XCE 16–17 age category — his second gold in the national youth meet. His back-to-back triumphs also earned him a ₱16,000 cash incentive from the Iloilo provincial government.
Not to be outdone, Psalm Pampag sprinted to Bacolod City’s first gold in the girls’ 16-under 200-meter dash at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex. The Romanito P. Maravilla National High School student, mentored by coaches Miguel Arca and Jerry Belibestre, surged past rivals to give Bacolod its breakthrough victory.
Her win capped a strong showing by Bacolod athletes, including Maxene Hayley Uy (three silvers in swimming), Geri Kiara Javier (silver in rhythmic gymnastics – hoop), Kane Benedict Laureano (silver in boys’ U-18 shot put), and the Girls Cadet Pomsae Team of Savanna Saril, Samantha Arcigal, and Jessica Tinasas (bronze).
The Batang Pinoy National Championships, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), serve as the country’s premier grassroots sports program — nurturing young talents like Labar, Mana-ay, and Pampag who could soon represent the Philippines on the international stage./PN
