By CHRIS PANGANIBAN
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — With just six months to go before the national spotlight turns to Agusan del Sur, the province’s mayors have rallied behind a single goal — to make the Palarong Pambansa 2026 not just an event, but an experience to remember.
In a meeting held Wednesday, November 12, at the Provincial Governor’s Office Conference Room in Patin-ay, Vice Governor Patricia Anne B. Plaza gathered the province’s local chief executives — from Bayugan City to the farthest river towns — to map out preparations for the biggest sporting spectacle in the country.
“This is Agusan del Sur’s moment,” Plaza said. “We want every athlete and visitor to leave with stories about our warmth, our culture, and the beauty of our land. Together, we’ll make sure they never forget this place.”
The Palarong Pambansa 2026, which will unfold from the third week of May to the first week of June, is expected to bring thousands of student-athletes, coaches, and visitors from across the Philippines. For a province known for its lush landscapes and gentle people, this hosting is a historic first — and everyone is pitching in to make it count.
A Festival of Sports and Culture
Provincial Tourism Officer Dannah Rufalyn M. Buquir, who heads the Events Management Cluster, unveiled a lineup that reads like a festival calendar.
The excitement begins with a Parade Simulation and Technical Rehearsal on May 23, followed by the grand Opening Ceremonies on May 24 at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov. D.O. Plaza Sports Complex, culminating in a Fellowship Night under the stars at the Capitol Amphitheatre.
On May 25, traditional games and the Tribalympics will celebrate indigenous heritage before the athletic action heats up from May 26 to 30. Each night, cultural performances and awarding ceremonies will fill the Capitol grounds with music and pride, ending with a Closing Ceremony on May 31. Pull-out operations will follow from June 1 to 5.
“This is more than just sports,” Buquir said. “It’s about sharing who we are — our stories, our artistry, our unity.”
Showcasing Agusanon ingenuity
To highlight local craftsmanship and agribusiness, Agri booths will rise as early as April 1, showcasing products from farmers and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. across the province.
The booths will remain open through the Naliyagan Festival in June, turning the Capitol grounds into a vibrant showcase of Agusan del Sur’s best harvests and homegrown creativity.
“This gives visitors the chance to taste, see, and experience the province’s agricultural heart,” Buquir added.
The Tourism Office has also crafted five adventure-packed tour packages — the Rosario Farm Tour, Prosperidad Water Adventure, Bayugan Highlands Tour, Falls and Shores Tour, and Trail and River Tour — giving athletes and guests a chance to explore the province beyond the games.
For those seeking something deeper, special tours to Putting Buhangin Cave, Latay Cave and Nyholm Falls, the iconic Agusan Marsh Lake Panlabuhan Floating Village, and the Provincial Museum promise an immersion into the province’s natural wonders and cultural soul.
Readiness across the province
Engineer Linda M. Buquir, head of the Provincial Engineering Office and the Technical and Facilitation Cluster, presented proposed playing venues and billeting quarters spread across Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Rosario, San Francisco, Talacogon, Bunawan, and Esperanza.
“We’ve selected venues not just for convenience, but for comfort and accessibility. Every athlete should feel welcome and at home here,” she said.
To ensure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable event, the mayors pledged to mobilize their communities — from clean-up drives and waste management to deploying barangay tanods for crowd control and MSWDOs for child protection. Additional medical and emergency response teams will also be stationed across all key areas.
One Vision
For Vice Governor Plaza, the coming months will test the province’s ability to work as one — but she believes the unity on display is already a victory in itself.
“The Palarong Pambansa is more than a sporting event,” she said. “It’s a celebration of who we are as Agusanons — resilient, generous, and proud. When the opening ceremony begins and the crowd roars, it won’t just be for the athletes. It will be for Agusan del Sur.”
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