GOVERNOR Peter ‘Sr Pedro’ M. Unabia and the Provincial Capitol played Santa Claus in December ahead of the Yuletide season to the great delight of the Misamis Oriental performing athletes, their coaches, trainers, and parents.

This developed as the Provincial Capitol feted the 2024 Palarong Pambansa gold winners in this morning’s flag-raising ceremony, October 14 at the Capitol ground along with the giving of cash incentives to a total amount of P565,000 upon the order of the Department of Education-Division of Misamis Oriental.

The awardees’ primary and secondary school athletes from Misamis Oriental won gold medals in athletics, chess, badminton, volleyball girls’, and archery during the Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City last July 2024.

“Lipay apil mga ginikanan kay gawas nga bawi-bawi sa gasto, makapalit kita’g bag-ong mga gamit pagtuon sa mga bata para motaas pa ang level diha sa ilang pag-compete,” said Dhoreylotter ‘Onin’ Querequere, father and coach of 12-year-old Janin Dhrey Querequere from Balingoan who won gold in elementary girls chess.

FIRST TIME. Governor Peter Unabia and the Provincial Capitol recognize the Palaro heroes by giving them cash incentives on Monday morning’s flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol ground, Cagayan de Oro City. Photo by Lynde Salgados

The younger Querequere, now an Arena Fide Master, also brought two golds for Misamis Oriental’s cause in the last two years of the Batang Pinoy National Chess Championships in Vigan City and Metro Manila.

“First time kini nga nanghatag ang probinsiya og cash incentives for the Palaro winners. At least, naapil pud kami pag recognize,” said MisOr chess trainer Brandly Tan, who attributed their success in chess to dedication, consistent training and hard work.

Schools Division Superintendent of Misamis Oriental Edilberto Oplenaria told Gold Star Daily that he’s so proud of the province’s contribution to Northern Mindanao’s ninth-place finish overall in this year’s Palaro where it produced more than half of its 14-gold haul.

“I think that will go as a record for a long time in the DepEd-run event nga dili pud nato mahimo without the support of Governor Unabia and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental,” Oplenaria said, even citing the elementary athletes’ remarkable top-five performance nationwide.